The review says AstroPay had become a recognized deposit and withdrawal option at casinos in Africa, Asia, Europe and LATAM. It also lists support for major currencies such as INR, BRL, USD, EUR and CAD, and says users can access additional currencies through the app’s ‘Currency exchange’ feature.
A digital card lets players pay without entering debit- or credit-card details on a casino site. Online casinos take steps to protect payment information, but some customers prefer not to save card details in a casino cashier. Others would rather keep casino transactions off their bank-card statements.
How AstroPay Works
The mobile app is one way to use AstroPay. The review says customers can add funds, withdraw money and exchange foreign currencies in the app. It describes more than 200 funding methods, including Neteller, debit cards, credit cards and bank transfers.
An AstroPay balance works much like an eWallet: you add funds before spending them. For casino payments, however, the source describes generating a ‘virtual card’ from that balance rather than logging in with an AstroPay username and password at the casino cashier. Select AstroPay Card as the deposit method, enter the amount for the digital card and provide its 16-digit code. The review says the payment then clears and is credited to the casino account.
Payments can be set up using these channels:
- AstroPay account access through an HTML5 web browser
- iOS app from the AppStore
- Android app from Google Play
Security
AstroPay is PCI-compliant and DSS certified, and uses 128-bit encryption over HTTPS. It also describes encrypted app transactions and says the service provides a layer between a user’s financial accounts and a casino. For anyone considering a new online casino, the review presents AstroPay Card as a way to avoid connecting a primary financial account directly to the casino.
The review names Galactic Mark Limited (CN: 2282481), AP Global Corporation LLP (OC346322) and Larstal Limited (FRN: 901001) as companies behind the brand. It says these entities are authorized as EMIs under the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) 2011 Electronic Money Regulations.
AstroPay Services
AstroPay accounts can hold several currencies, making them similar to a foreign-exchange service or multi-currency eWallet. The review describes the ‘electronic digital card’ as its main service: it generates a 16-digit payment code for purchases or casino deposits. It also says customers may receive funds into AstroPay and withdraw to a bank or eWallet. The source notes a small fee for each service.
- Exchange between currencies
- Add funds to AstroPay
- Withdraw funds from AstroPay
- Pay or deposit using the 16-digit code
- Withdraw casino funds to AstroPay if the casino supports it
Availability and Currencies
The review says AstroPay Card is available across 6 continents and lists currencies such as EUR, CAD, INR, NZD, AUD, GBP, BRL, MXN and COP. AstroPay customers can exchange currencies in the company’s app. For example, it suggests a person in India could exchange INR for EUR or USD if a casino doesn’t accept INR, then use the exchanged currency to deposit.
AstroPay Card: Pros and Cons
Al Buraq Regina’s review gives more weight to the listed advantages than the drawbacks:
PROS
- Provides a more private way to deposit
- Casinos don’t charge for AstroPay deposits
- Casino deposits are described as instant
- The review reports that casinos worldwide accept it
- Supports payments in currencies from around the world
- Sign-up is said to take less than 1 minute
- Available through a web browser, iOS app or Android app
CONS
- According to the review, AstroPay doesn’t support cryptocurrencies
- Not every casino supports AstroPay withdrawals
- AstroPay adds an extra step before making a deposit
AstroPay: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is AstroPay available?
The review names AstroPay’s official regions as Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South & Central America, and Western and Central Europe. It describes the number of countries where the service is unavailable as very small.
How do I access AstroPay?
AstroPay can be used in a web browser on desktop computers, laptops, tablets and mobile operating systems. The review also lists an iOS app from the App Store and an Android app from Google Play.
Is AstroPay safe?
The Al Buraq Regina review says yes, citing regulation by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It says this oversight requires the company to meet security standards and consumer-rights and privacy requirements. The source also describes encrypted connections, but that doesn’t support its claim that hacking is unlikely; no payment service should be considered risk-free.
Will I pay a casino fee for using AstroPay?
The review says the casino deposit itself is free, while AstroPay charges a small fee to generate a virtual 16-digit card. Check the applicable service terms for costs before using it.
Do all casinos accept AstroPay?
No. Acceptance is common but not universal. AstroPay is described as a growing option for private casino deposits. Check a particular casino’s cashier to see which payment methods it offers.
