What is UnionPay?
UnionPay is a prepaid card payment. UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay (CUP), a Chinese financial services corporation. UnionPay provides bank card services internationally and a major card system in mainland China.
UnionPay International was founded in 2012. It is a bankcard association established under the approval of the State Council and the People’s Bank of China. It is headquartered in Shanghai, China and has over 500+ employees. Over the years, UPI has become an integral part of China’s bankcard industry. Today, it is partnered with over 2,400 institutions around the globe, enables card acceptance in 180 countries and regions with issuance in 70 countries and regions.
UPI enables its bank customers to offer its consumers the choice to pay with debit, prepaid cards and credit products. In the iGaming industry, the primary UPI payment type accepted and used is UnionPay prepaid cards, which offer secure, quick and hassle-free transactions.
Top Software Providers that offer UnionPay
SoftSwiss
BetConstruct
Integration and Functionality
UnionPay payments products and solutions are integrated with an API via the UnionPay International Developer Platform. This UPI Developer Platform is for issuers, acquirers, merchants, and software developers that aim to launch a UnionPay Card business outside of Mainland China. Data inquiry, documents downloading, sandbox environment configuration, testing, etc. are provided. Everything that is required for integration can be accessed via the UnionPay International site once you have been approved as a UnionPay merchant.
Another way to integrate UnionPay is with the help of one of the B2B iGaming software platform companies we review here at Casinnovate, such as those we’ve listed above. These providers offer payment processing services that include UnionPay as part of the payment solutions they provide, and/or guidance on how to make this payment product a fully compliant part of your online casino or betting site.
How to get a business account through UnionPay
If you would like to become a UnionPay merchant, you will need to contact a UnionPay acquirer in the region where your business operates. This can be done by:
- Finding a UnionPay acquirer – You can find a list of acquirers on the UnionPay website.
- Contacting an acquirer – Once you have selected an acquirer, contact them to learn more details about accepting UnionPay and about their acquiring capabilities.
Once you have contacted an acquirer, and you have been approved, you can begin starting the process of integrating the payment into your business.
Although this integration process is not difficult, it can be more time-consuming and daunting in the same way that adding a credit card payment to your payment system can be. As such, for greater ease and convenience, we recommend partnering with an iGaming software provider that understands the intricacies of the online gambling industry and that can help you obtain this payment service.
How UnionPay functions as an iGaming payment solution
UnionPay can be used for deposits. Transactions are processed instantly, giving players immediate access to their funds so they can begin playing their favourite games for real money. That being said, the UnionPay prepaid card cannot be used for making withdrawals.
Players can easily obtain a UnionPay prepaid card via the official UnionPay site. Prepaid cards include both non-reloadable and reloadable types and can be issued with or without KYC requirements. UnionPay prepaid cards are available globally and can be obtained in just about any continent. The is also a mobile friendly payment.
With its growing worldwide availability, this payment method makes it easy for online casinos and betting sites to localize their product.
Benefits and Drawbacks for Players using UnionPay
Benefits
- Fast deposit method – Transactions process in real time, with funds showing up in a player’s account within seconds.
- Great way to keep track of budget – The benefit of a prepaid card is that players are limited to how much they can deposit, which can provide greater control over their gambling.
- Highly secure – The advanced data protection technologies give players peace of mind when depositing at online casinos.
- Easy to obtain and use a card – Players can obtain a card either via the UnionPay International website or through a local bank partnered with UPI. To make a deposit, a player simply needs to open the casino cashier, select UnionPay from the payment methods, enter the deposit amount, fill out their necessary banking details once redirected to the banking platform, and then confirm payment.
Drawbacks
- Withdrawals not available – Currently players cannot use UnionPay prepaid cards to cashout. They must use another payment method to make a withdrawal.
- Fees – Though casinos may not charge fees to use UnionPay, some banks may charge high fees for players to use the service.
Countries
While the UnionPay service covers 180 countries and is primarily used in mainland China, regions where this form of payment and the UnionPay mobile app are frequently used include:
- China
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- South Korea
- Singapore
- Australia
- Canada
- Russia
- USA
Safety and Security
UnionPay is a secure payment product that uses advanced data protection technologies. This ensures there is no third-party interference during the payment process. Players who use the prepaid cards do not have to worry about their data being compromised. With UnionPay you can expect to have the most up-to-date and necessary security measures.
Customer Support
If you or your players need support, you can always access the UnionPay “Help Center” via the company’s website. You can also contact them via telephone.
For more direct merchant support, simply get in touch with your acquirer.
UnionPay Fast Facts
- Type of payment method – Prepaid card payment
- Deposit available – Yes
- Withdrawal available – No
- Multiple currencies accepted – Yes
- Easy integration – No
- Popular iGaming regions – Asia
Conclusion
UnionPay is a secure and trusted payment that is gaining in popularity in the online gambling industry in different parts of the world. It has the potential to be very advantageous to your iGaming business, especially if it complements a jurisdiction you are targeting, such as China, Japan, Singapore or Russia. Want to learn more about how you can make UnionPay a part of your payment system? Connect with an iGaming software platform specialist. The providers we’ve listed in this review are a great place to start! Of course, if you have any questions or would like us to help you find a partner, we’d be happy to help! Get in touch today.
