Bitcoin vs. Neosurf

As an online casino player, you're showered with choices when it comes to payment methods. Each casino offers at least a dozen payment solutions you can choose from and play with, so normally, you could get confused and unsure which one to choose.

To make a wise decision, you would have to learn more about the payment methods you’re eyeing. If indecisive on whether to use Bitcoin or Neosurf, two totally different payment solutions, then you should compare them and discover all of their strengths and weaknesses. We’ve done that job for you, so all you need to do is go through this overview. Bitcoin or Neosurf, which one to use for online gambling purposes?

Overview of Bitcoin and Neosurf

Before we even start with the overview, you should know that both Bitcoin and Neosurf are great options to use for online gambling purposes. They are both popular methods, used by many players from all over the world, so you should not worry about their credibility. But, they are two completely different solutions, providing you with different perks and downsides. Go through the overview to learn about them, and decide which one would suit you better.

For starters…

…Bitcoin is the world’s first and best-known cryptocurrency. It was invented in 2008 by an anonymous group of people or a person for that matter, with the aim to decentralize online payments as we knew until then. Its beginnings were quite controversial, but the world quickly caught on the digital currency and in a matter of years, it became the most popular and worldwide-used cryptocurrency.

As introduced…

…it was created with the purpose to eliminate banks which were the core of online payments and make it possible for coin holders to exchange coins without an authority to track their transactions. That’s why it is based on a peer-to-peer system, a system that allows people to exchange coins between themselves, with the approval of both parties by specific keys.

Its underlying blockchain technology made this possible and made the appearance of other crypto coins possible, too. Thanks to Bitcoin, people were introduced to an alternative banking solution that not only caught on but became people's most preferred option when it comes to online payments. 

Neosurf…

…on the other hand, is a French-based prepaid card solution, which expanded well beyond its headquarters, and went global in a matter of years. Besides France, it is available in the UK, Malta, Austria, Spain, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and Canada, among 40 of other countries. Even though it started out in Europe, it managed to spread all over the world, China and Colombia included.

Its unique features set it apart from the competition, and thanks to the network of remote partners, such as Xalt Pay LTD, it managed to get a user base across the globe. Today, there are over 135,000 points of sale or Neosurf Authorized Resellers (NAR), which can be anything from a small shop, a supermarket, a gas station or even an online platform. That’s right, while most prepaid cards can only be purchased offline, Neosurf is also available online, and that’s one of its strongest suits.

Moreover…

…as a solution that could cater to the online gambling industry perfectly, Neosurf has already partnered with a bunch of online casinos and sportsbetting sites, such as NetBet, Betclic and PokerStars, among others. As soon as it got the recognition it deserves, it was found on the list of many sites as an accepted payment method. Therefore, if you decide to use it, you will see that over 300 online casino sites are at your disposal. 

Getting Started with Bitcoin and Neosurf

You will learn that getting started with one of these payment solutions is easier than with the other. Nonetheless, once you get started with them, you will receive a bunch of benefits. As mentioned, these are two very different solutions, so we better get on with the step-by-step instructions.

Getting started with Bitcoin…

…would be a bit more complicated than with Neosurf, but you probably figured that out. First, you would need to explore the many wallet types to decide on the one to use. Then, you would need to check out many platforms where you can create your Bitcoin wallet and fill it with coins.

Therefore, first decide whether you’ll go with a desktop wallet, a hardware, a paper or the safest option, the eWallet. Once you choose the one to go with, visit sites like Coinbase, Bitstamp and Bitfinex to create your wallet account.

Then…

…you’ll need to fill the wallet with coins. To get some coins, you can go with the longer and more expensive way and mine them yourself. You'll need quite a bit of equipment to do that and rather huge electricity bills to pay for. Or, you can go with the simpler solution, and buy yourself some coins from respective platforms with fiat currency equivalents.

Finally…

…after you’re done with the whole procedure, you can start making your transactions. When you’ve created your Bitcoin wallet, you’ve been given an alphanumerical sequence known as your public key. This is your address, your ID when you’re sending and receiving coins. Whatever you do, don’t ever lose this key because it is your literal key to making Bitcoin transactions, so make sure you keep it safe in a safe deposit box, at home under the mattress, or wherever you feel it would be safe.

To get started with Neosurf…

…however, you’ll see that you have a few simple steps to make. First, you have to visit its official website and find the NAR locator. This is a tool that helps you find the NAR that’s nearest to your home address. Once you find it, you should pay it a visit. One of the greatest things about this payment solution is that you don’t need to share any personal details with the NAR staff, nor sensitive banking details if you don't want to. You could purchase your prepaid card in cash, and get gone with it.

Speaking of…

…the prepaid card, you should know that you have several types of cards to choose from, depending on your needs as an online casino player. You could choose the Minor Neosurf card, which is available in amounts of €10 and €20 only. This is the card to get if you’re playing on making a one-time deposit and you’re a low-roller. But the Classic Neosurf card is available in more denominations €15, €30, €50, €100 and €250.

This is the one most players use for their online casino deposits. But there are also two other options. NeoCash MasterCard is the refillable card which can be topped off with credit cards, bank wire transfer and even the two previously described prepaid cards. You can top it off both with offline retailers and online. MyNeosurf, on the other hand, is the online option, which can be filled with bank transfer, checks and credit cards.

Regardless…

…of the type of card you decide to go with after you've made the purchase, you will be given a 10-digit code. This is the code you need to insert when making online purchases, or when you're depositing at an online casino, for that matter. 

Using Bitcoin and Neosurf for Deposits and Withdrawals

Once you get to this step, you will see making online casino transactions with these payment methods would be pretty straightforward and easy.

The first thing you need to do, though, is finding a suitable online casino that accepts the respective payment methods. As soon as you join it, you will be ready to make your first deposit. Make sure you explore any bonuses at this point since most online casinos give pretty rewarding first-deposit bonus offers.

To deposit with Bitcoin…

…you would need to go to the casino’s Cashier or Banking page, or sometimes straight to the Deposit page. Find its icon and tap or click on it. Considering the transaction will be processed from your eWallet to the casino’s eWallet, you would need to add the amount of coins you wish to deposit at the casino, and the casino’s private key. Make sure you insert the right key, because the transactions with Bitcoin are irreversible, and if you insert the wrong key, the coins will be sent to the wrong address and you’ll lose them for good.

To make withdrawals with it…

…repeat the same procedure. Go to the Withdrawal page, enter the amount of coins you wish to withdraw, but now, enter your own public key. Again, double-check the key if you want the money to end up on your eWallet account and not someone else’s. As soon as the casino confirms the transaction, the coins will be on your account instantly.

With Neosurf…

…though, the depositing process is even more simple. You just need to select it as your deposit method from the methods available in the Deposit page. A pop up will appear where you’ll need to enter the 10-digit code and the amount you wish to fund your account with. Depending on the prepaid card type you chose, you can either use all the money or part of the money you have on your card. Confirm your transaction, and the money will be on your online casino account in an instant.

While withdrawals…

…are possible with Neosurf, so far, we've encountered only a few operators who accept it as a withdrawal method. But you should know that it is a possibility if you're a holder of Neosurf MasterCard which is the reloadable solution.

You would need to go to the Withdrawals page, where you’ll need to select Neosurf as your payment solution, add the amount you wish to withdraw, and the code. Wait for the casino to approve the request and send you the money back on your card.

Benefits and Downsides

There are three things Bitcoin and Neosurf have in common. One, they are both fee-free payment methods, perfect for the most avid online casino players. Two, with both of them, your identity is never revealed, nor your banking details. You’ll stay perfectly anonymous. And three, they are both extremely secure solutions for online casino payments.

Bitcoin has an unrivaled level of protection, considering the transaction can only be finalized if both parties confirm it with their keys. Neosurf, as well, provides you with a 10-digit code that only you know and only you can use to make transactions with it.

Bitcoin, however…

…can provide you with other benefits. Due to its nature, it provides you with untraceable transactions. No authority can ever see your transactions and no transactions will ever appear on your bank statement. Plus, it is an international payment method that enables you to receive and send money to people all over the globe.

On the other hand, it also has its downsides. The fluctuations, the constant changes in value are what concerns users the most. The coin value can rise or decrease at any point, making it impossible for you to be certain at any point how much money you have left. And, the fact that the transactions cannot be reversed is worrisome, since you’ll have to be on alert all the time.

Neosurf’s strongest suit…

…is money management. Users, especially online casino players who have the habit to overspend, find this as a great relief, since they can never go back in debts again. The fact that you can purchase the reloadable card is another plus if you're a player who knows their limits but is used to play with more than €250.

However…

…the country limitation is still a big inconvenience for players who wish to play with it but cannot. The method has still not gone full-on-global, even though it is available across many countries in the world. Also, the fact that in most cases cannot be used for withdrawals is what discourages players from choosing to use it. Players normally want to deposit and withdraw with the same payment solution, so this is its major drawback.