ClickandBuy Casinos
While there are dozens of reputable online payment processors out there, not all of them pass the test of time. Unfortunately, as in any industry, sometimes companies go out of business. When that happens in iGaming, it can mean a lot of disappointment for users who are forced to scramble for a new way to make deposits.
Such was the case with ClickandBuy. One of the most popular e-wallet solutions in Europe, and available more widely for uses both in and out of the gaming industry, the company provided service for more than 30 different countries and boasted millions of users.
Unfortunately, all of that came to an end in 2016, when the company stopped processing payments. At the end of a transition period that concluded on August 26, it became impossible for users to log into their ClickandBuy accounts, and all merchants – including many Internet casinos – stopped offering the service as a deposit option.
How it Worked
This product was a fairly standard e-wallet, albeit one that offered players a high degree of flexibility. To get started, players needed to open a free account on the company’s website, then find a casino that utilized this as a deposit option.
At that point, players would need to have a way to fund their wallet. ClickandBuy offered up more than 40 different ways to get funds into the account, ranging from credit and debit cards to bank accounts and prepaid options, among others.
Once funding was established, users could now make a deposit by finding this method in the cashier of a casino that offered this option. Players put in their Clickandbuy information, confirmed the amount of their transaction, and submitted the request. Assuming everything was set up correctly, transactions were typically instant, with money hitting the casino balance in a matter of seconds.
As with most wallet programs, this could also be used for withdrawals. Players could then connect their wallet to their bank account to cash out entirely, or hold on to the money in order to make future deposits or purchases at other sites.
Advantages
There were a number of great advantages to this program, though most were shared with other popular e-wallet solutions. This type of product in general has the advantage of being able to serve as a central banking platform for all of your online play. As long as every site accepted this method, you could put money in and take money out all with this one account, simplifying things and ensuring that you didn’t have to sign up for a lot of third party programs.
Another factor in its popularity was the fact that it would offer a layer of protection between the user’s financial data and the casinos themselves. With many players wary about sharing such data online, e-wallets offer up a way to use your credit cards or bank accounts without constantly sharing those numbers with the world.
Finally, these transactions were reliable, safe, and fast. This combination made ClickandBuy as easy and convenient to use as a credit card or other traditional instrument, only with added security and privacy protections.
What Happened to The Company?
ClickandBuy was acquired by Deutsche Telekom in 2010. In late 2015, the new owners decided to discontinue the e-wallet service due to what they called an inability to be competitive with the strong competition in the online payment processing market.
While Deutsche Telekom declined to disclose much information about the service when it was discontinued, it was widely believed that more than 10 million customers were still using it at least occasionally at the time. That would have made it the second-largest online payment provider in the world, trailing only PayPal.
The company shut down in April 2016. Players were still able to access their accounts through August, at which time the platform was shut down entirely. However, players can still contact a remaining service team to recover funds that were in their accounts.
FAQ
What Are Some Alternatives?
If you liked the flexibility and safety of an e-wallet, there are several good options that are widely used at iGaming sites. Among these are two of the largest payment processors in the industry: Neteller and Skrill. Another option is PayPal, which can be used at a fair number of sites in regulated jurisdictions.
How Can I Retrieve Funds That Were in My Account?
ClickandBuy is holding on to funds that were outstanding in their accounts for a period of at least six years following the termination date of all accounts. You may have these funds processed to you by visiting the company’s website and contacting the service team. Keep in mind that it would be best to do this as soon as possible, as a “Dormant Account Maintenance Fee” will be charged after one year has elapsed.
Is It Possible to Use My Remaining Balance at Casinos?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. The only option is to request a payout of your remaining funds.
