GiroPay background
Launched in 2006, GiroPay was developed as online shopping grew and customers sought secure ways to pay. Participating banks represented more than 60% of account holders across Germany and Austria, giving many residents of those countries access to the service for online gaming.
At a merchant that offers GiroPay, customers select their bank and sign in to complete payment. The service uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, according to the review. It also says an online casino does not retain the customer's banking information. These are descriptions, rather than independent verification of a casino's data practices.
Paying at gambling sites with GiroPay
First check the casino cashier to see whether GiroPay is listed. The review says the method is often offered by sites serving customers in Germany and Austria, but availability depends on the individual casino and should be confirmed there.
Select GiroPay to see the participating banks, then choose your institution. The payment flow redirects you to your bank's sign-in page, where you log in and enter the deposit amount.
The review describes an extra authorization step: after you request the deposit, a Transaction Authentication Number (TAN) is issued and must be entered to continue. It says the deposited funds are then available to play with immediately.
GiroPay itself does not charge a fee for casino deposits, though a bank may apply its own charge. It reports an average bank fee of 1% of the deposit when one is charged; check your institution's terms for the applicable amount.
Why some players choose GiroPay
GiroPay can be connected to a checking or savings account. The review suggests that players who want to set a spending limit could first move a chosen amount into a separate savings account, then use that balance for a deposit.
The service will not approve a deposit that would overdraw an account. That stated feature may help prevent a transaction from exceeding the account balance, though it does not set a gambling budget for the player.
According to the review, participating banks already serve most customers in Germany and Austria. It says users can access GiroPay by requesting online banking access through their bank.
The source lists these further benefits:
- Bank details can be entered through the payment flow and, according to the review, are not collected or stored by the gambling site.
- Deposits are described as instant, allowing players to place bets soon after paying.
- Fees are described as low or uncommon; where charged, the review reports a range of 0.9% to 1.2%, plus an additional €0.08 for each transaction.
Limits and points to consider
The original review describes GiroPay as available only in Germany and Austria, with transactions limited to EUR. It therefore says the number of casinos offering the method may be limited. Those statements concern the service's described markets and do not establish availability in Canada.
GiroPay is presented as a deposit option, with no withdrawal mechanism. The review says players must use another route, such as an e-wallet, credit card, or debit card, to receive winnings. Those alternatives may carry fees, so check their terms before choosing one.
GiroPay in summary
For people who can access it, the original review characterizes GiroPay as a convenient way to fund casino deposits and describes users as familiar with it from online shopping. It cannot process withdrawals according to that account, so players would need a separate withdrawal method. The review's positive assessment reflects its stated market and conditions; it does not establish that GiroPay or any casino is available to Canadian players.
