The online gambling industry is entering a new era, with blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies reshaping how players engage with games and how casinos handle payments. Speaking with SiGMA TV, Andria Evripidou, Co-Founder and CEO of XDA, said the industry is seeing an emergence of crypto casinos.
This pivot toward crypto-driven platforms is not merely technological. This reflects a broader shift in expectations around fairness, transparency, and speed. Traditional online casinos, which were plagued by slow withdrawals and opaque game mechanics, are being challenged by new blockchain-native alternatives.
Blockchain casinos gaining ground
Experts say crypto casinos bring several advantages over conventional platforms, including instant payouts, reduced fees, and provably fair gameplay. For Evripidou, one of the key benefits lies in the simplicity and efficiency of transactions. “You don’t want the player to go through multiple verification screens or have their bank say it will take two days to deposit funds.”
This emphasis on immediacy and user experience is critical. As Evripidou explained, “It solves that issue, that immediacy. And likewise, for the player, it enhances the security they feel with the casino when they don’t have to wait for their payouts.”
Empowering emerging markets
Nowhere is the impact of crypto gambling felt more deeply than in emerging markets, particularly across Africa. “Without exaggerating, I do think blockchain can make a massive difference in the world of gambling and more generally,” Evripidou said. “The people of Africa are willing to test things, embrace them, and drive that innovation forward.”
Traditional banking systems in many African countries have long been expensive and restrictive. Evripidou believes blockchain is a tool for financial inclusion. “It’s about inclusivity. Whether it’s price, speed, or geography, blockchain removes all those barriers.”
“If you send a Bitcoin, you can track it every step of the way,” she noted. “But when you send a traditional payment, you don’t really know where it is. You have to go to your bank and hope for the best.”
Cross-border solutions with stablecoins
Cross-border payment friction is another area where crypto offers a real advantage. “What matters for casino operators is that the player comes in and has a very swift experience in engaging and starting to play,” Evripidou said. “You don’t want them delayed by banks with no connection or long verification processes.”
Stablecoins, in particular, help bypass weak banking infrastructure and speed up international payments. Stablecoins are a kind of cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to another asset, such as a fiat currency or gold, to maintain a stable price. “It’s about fast adoption, opening up revenue and innovation for everyone,” Evripidou added.
Navigating evolving regulations
With regulation in flux across the globe, gaming operators are left to navigate an uncertain landscape. “Crypto regulation hasn’t been a homogeneous trajectory. Some countries are very anti-crypto, and others, especially in Africa, are more pragmatic,” Evripidou said.
Remaining compliant requires a nuanced understanding of both the letter and spirit of regulatory frameworks. “It’s about trying to see what the ultimate objective is,” she said. “There’s a considerable cost to regulation, but at the same time, technology has developed to help support compliance, sometimes more so than in traditional banking.”
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