With so many cryptocurrencies on the market these days, it can be hard to keep track. And as casino players, it can be even harder to figure out which ones are best for online gambling purposes, and which should be kept as investments alone.
The reality is that this type of decision is beyond the scope of our casino experts, although we can help flush out what each cryptocurrency is about, at which casinos it can be used, and its distinct advantages over others. Which brings us to the subject of this crypto review, USD Coin, also known as USDC.
One of the newer cryptocurrencies around, USDC made its debut in 2018. As its name explicitly spells out, it is inherently linked in value to the US dollar. This link is what makes it a digital stable coin, or more commonly written as stablecoin. That means unlike other cryptos you'll encounter, its market value does not fluctuate. This is similar to another stablecoin which came before it, Tether, aka USDT, which is also based on the USD value, though they have their differences, which we will get to in a bit.
Overall, we can say that due to its high transparency and the direct link to the US dollar, USDC is definitely a good payment alternative to more prominent cryptocurrencies in the casino when available. What else to consider? Keep reading for our full review of USDC and its place in the world of online gambling.
To get started gambling online with USDC - in case you are already raring to go - we have put together a list of the best casinos in our books for USDC play.
Keep in mind that the USD Coin as a digital currency is not particularly popular yet in many places, including in Europe. At least in regards to the iGaming industry, your choices will be more limited than when playing with coins like say Bitcoin or Ethereum.
That can easily change, of course. The USD Coin has already managed to overtakeTether in terms of market value and availability on Coinbase. It is even accepted as a payment method for settling Visa transactions as of March 2021, making it all the more useful and steady. This in turn is making USDC more popular. These kinds of trends are the very things operators notice, helping to make USD Coin a more common payment option in online crypto casinos.
The Short History Behind the USD Coin
Now that we know that USD Coin can be used as a payment method at some of the top online casinos around, let's have a little look at its history. From our perspective, it is always interesting to understand where a cryptocurrency came from and its designed intent. And of course, its benefits over others.
USD Coin was initially released as a cryptocurrency in 2018. It is currently managed by a consortium known as Centre, which in turn was founded by a company called Circle. And Circle for its part includes members from Coinbase, which is one of the biggest the cryptocurrency exchanges, as well as the Bitcoin mining company, Bitmain.
Small tip: Traded under the USDC symbol, USD Coin should not be confused with USDT, which is Tether's symbol, or with CBDC, which is the central bank digital currency.
According to Circle, each USD Coin is backed by an actual US dollar which is held either in reserve or by another "approved investment", although further details are not provided. More recently, the wording on the Circle website was changed from "backed by US dollars" to "backed by fully reserved assets". This reserve is so that you know there is always enough money in the issuer's account for everyone to cash out. In other words, in theory all holders of USD Coins can all cash out in full back to US dollars without any problem.
As for technicalities, without getting into it too much, USDC is based on the ETH blockchain and is therefore often referred to as an Ethereum token.
In terms of proliferation, there are well over 55 billion USD Coins in circulation today, which can be used in many ways. One as we mentioned is to pay your Visa credit card bills, and another is of course to play in crypto casinos.
What Is the Coin's Connection with the US Dollar?
What is most noteworthy about USD Coins is the fact that the value of each individual token is covered by one US dollar. Or put in slightly different terms, the value of USDC is tied to the value of the US dollar. This means that unlike other cryptocurrencies such as BTC, its value does not fluctuate in comparison to the American dollar, which is why it is what is called a stablecoin - that is, a coin that is stable in terms of its value.
So while most people would not invest in USD Coin for profit making purposes, they might do so in order to hold their money in crypto because they prefer the blockchain financial system to banks, and for actual spending purposes, such as at an online casino.
This US dollar based cryptocurrency is a token whose value corresponds at a rate of 1:1 to the actual US dollar. Combined with the fact that each coin is backed by an actual dollar, this ensures high stability in terms of value.
This lack of price fluctuation for casino banking purposes is particularly appealing in that you won't lose out on your crypto investment potential while it is in your casino account. For example, if you put 100 USDC in your casino account, it will be worth the same whenever you decide to cash out.
With Bitcoin on the other hand, you can lose out on a big trade when it is tied up anywhere beyond your crypto wallet as its value goes up and down. It can be worth very different things between the time it goes in, and the time it goes out of your casino account. It may have had a $100 value when you made your deposit, but that $100 could be worth a mere $50 when you go to cash out.
What Is a Stable Coin Anyhow?
When most people think of cryptocurrency, the first thing that comes to mind is likely volatility. Like how the price of Bitcoin is all over the place. Because of this, they often think of it only in terms of investment purposes, or maybe even more accurately, how it can be optimised for a get rich quick scheme.
But that's not what all cryptos are about. Not at all. In fact, some people are invested in crypto as an actual currency. That is, they see it as the future for how to hold their money and make transactions, with less government and bank bureaucracy intervention.
The key idea behind stable coins is to give investors the opportunity to park capital. For such people, stablecoins are really the answer. That is, they have a stable value, which means their buying power remains consistent, making them useful for actual purchases and not just trading.
This chart reflects the price of the USD Coin in comparison to the US dollar. Being tied to the dollar, the fluctuations are minor. (Drag the chart for more historical data.)
The value is always dependent on the US dollar exchange rate and at most deviates only minimally. Accordingly, it is also not possible for a single USD Coin to suddenly be sold for tens of thousands of euros. In other words, stable tokens like the USDC are not subject to market whims. What you buy is what you get, when you buy in and also when you want to sell. So $100 is $100 on any day, in any year.
How and Where to Buy USD Coin
If you are an experienced crypto investor, you don't need our help on this one. But we understand that some readers may be wondering about the procedures involved, so skip ahead if you already know this.
To begin with, know that there are going to be different procedures depending on where you live. For example, according to Coinbase, customers from Germany are not allowed to buy USDC directly with real money. However, cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and many others can be used as units to get USD Coins from any one of the major exchange platforms.
Which platform you choose for this is up to you. Things such as network transaction fees and other conditions should be considered in making your decision for or against a particular crypto exchange platform, though all of those we highlighted above are good.
In the specific case of the USD Coin though, there is no trading platform more familiar with the token than Coinbase, which is one of its founders. Being so connected with the coin is clearly a plus and you can get comprehensive information about the currency and its special features onsite.
Whichever platform you choose, this is how the purchase process works:
Set up a wallet account with your preferred crypto exchange platform.
Deposit money into that account (US dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros, etc.).
Buy USD Coin.
In addition to purchasing USDC with "standard" cash, you can easily make a trade on the platform and purchase it with your Bitcoin, Ethereum, or whatever other crypto you are already holding.
For those who are curious, the actual mechanism of how the purchase happens behind the scenes is carried out in three steps:
You send US dollars to the bank account of the coin issuer.
A smart contract is created by that issuer in the US dollar amount you sent, and USD Coins are minted accordingly.
Those coins are then sent to you, and the US dollars you sent are held in reserve.
How to Bank at an Online Casino Using USD Coin as Your Currency of Choice
Once you have USDC in your crypto wallet you are good to use it as you please - which might very well include crypto gambling.
As you might imagine, there is no learning curve involved in making this happen. Casino operators are clever after all, and are very tuned in to the customer experience. Hence they will make all forms of banking as easy as possible, which means USDC banking is going to be intuitive too!
Stake wallet preview
All that you need to begin your USDC gambling adventure is to:
Find which crypto casinos accept USDC - we suggest choosing one of our recommended USDC casinos above.
Register a casino account - for crypto casinos, usually little more than a username and password are needed to begin.
Open the casino cashier (or wallet if that is what it is called on the site you have chosen) and select USD Coin as your deposit method.
Either use the address provided onscreen or the QR code for where the money is meant to go.
Make sure to enter the correct amount you want to deposit, and proceed from there.
When making any crypto transaction, make sure to always pay attention to the details - like the amount you want to transfer and where - as there is no way to rectify a mistake, unlike with a credit card or bank.
Once you submit your deposit, it should take no more than a couple of minutes to see the funds in your casino account.
Another small thing to note: you will be eligible for a welcome bonus offer at many of our preferred places to play. If that is the case, make sure to claim it with your first transaction by either entering the appropriate bonus code or any other action required.
Tip: If you want to gamble in USDC and have yet to purchase any, many of the reputable crypto casinos we recommend have a link direct from the casino cashier to a third-party provider such as MoonPay. You can safely and easily purchase digital coins from there to fund your casino account.
Pros and Cons of USDC Gambling
There are a number of things to consider when gambling in any currency. There are differences between fiat gambling (like in Canadian dollars or British pounds, for example) and crypto coins. And just as much between the different crypto coins. As such, it is always worth considering the pros and cons of your choice, which in this case is USDC.
What advantages does USD Coin offer as a payment method at an online casino?
The original goal of USDC was to make financial transactions faster across borders. Even today, a transaction with US dollars can take several days, while with USD Coin it can be completed within a few minutes. This is exactly what those who make deposits into a USD Coin casino benefit from. Speed. With about 5 minutes as the average length it takes to complete the required blockchain confirmations, this is a good bet for quick transfers.
Grant Thornton is an accounting and consulting firm. With sales in the billions, it is one of the front runners in the industry and a respected authority on financial matters.
The fact that the USD Coin is tied to the US dollar has other advantages. Security is more important than ever when it comes to cryptocurrency. And this token is overseen by Grant Thornton, LLP one of the world's largest accounting and consulting corporations.
At the same time, FinCEN is responsible for preventing money laundering in accordance with the latest security standards, which is also beneficial. In other words, you get an added layer of safety for casino transactions, which is always a good thing.
USDC advantages at a glance:
Stable currency without major fluctuations in terms of the exchange rate
Officially attested to by Grant Thornton
Significantly faster transactions than US dollars
Regulated by FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network)
Maximum protection against money laundering
What are the disadvantages of using USD Coin as a payment method in the casino?
While there are many advantages as outlined, there is always at least one downside to pretty much every coin you encounter. In this case, the main one is that USDC is not a cryptocurrency that can be found on every corner. That is, it is not accepted at all online casinos yet. Also, for international players, it is less relevant than in its native America since it is a token that is linked to the US dollar.
These are the disadvantages of the USD Coin:
Relatively few USDC casinos
No price gains like with BTC and ETH (ie. it is not for making money)
Bonus availability can be more limited than with Bitcoin or fiat currencies
But what do we mean by more limited bonuses? Let's take a look at Cloudbet as an example. The crypto casino, which accepts USDC in addition to various other digital tokens, at last check provided a new customer bonus of up to 5 Bitcoins. Converted, that is equivalent to over $100,000. Players deposit in USDC will "only" be credited with up to 50,000 USD coins a welcome bonus, which is less but still huge. You will not be left empty-handed.
Unique Aspects of the USD Coin
USDC differs from other well-known cryptocurrencies in many ways. It's what we would call special. This is predominantly due to its stability in that just like Tether, USDC essentially acts as a digital US dollar, and is ultimately backed by this very real currency at a 1:1 value transfer.
Other interesting things to note in terms of comparison to other cryptos include the fact that USDC is:
Experiencing significantly faster growth than the Tether token (USDT)
Supported and co-developed by the crypto exchange Coinbase
Backed by Circle, a peer-to-peer payments technology company and one of the strongest founders behind USD Coin
Monitored monthly by an accounting agency
Available in almost all countries worldwide
Also interesting is the fact that the merchant app Coinbase Commerce initially only offered three cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Within a short time, however, USDC has become so established that it is now also available for trading at Coinbase Commerce, upping its reputation as much as its usefulness.
Which Is a Better Bet - Tether or USD Coin?
Tether and USD Coin have pretty much cornered the US dollar-pegged stablecoin market, holding over 80% of market share.
Since USDT and USDC are both stablecoins, it is a legitimate question to wonder what is the difference and which is better.
While USD Coin is growing at a faster rate, USDT still holds the largest market capitalisation. And while USDT is still used more often for both payments and trading, many actually consider USDC safer, as Centre is seen as putting in more effort to comply with governmental regulation and audits, as well as transparency initiatives in terms of its reserves.
How Safe Is It to Play at a USDC Casino?
As for safety, there are two issues involved. One is the safety of the currency itself, and the other is that of the casino.
In terms of the currency's safety, USD Coin is based on the Ethereum network. More precisely, ERC-20 is the standard for creating fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain - which holds the highest standards for digital tokens. The technical specifications behind this standard were established by the ETH blockchain in 2015 and have held their place as a leader in safety and efficiency ever since.
The biggest advantage of the USD Coin and the ERC-20 token system is that the transactions have uniform processing times. Transactions are answered reliably, and a breach of contract between the sender and recipient can be virtually ruled out.
This is what makes USDC safe as a currency, in addition to the external auditing we mentioned above. So yes, it is a good bet for gambling. The real issue then is a) finding an online casino which accepts this currency, and b) the casino is most importantly safe and reliable itself.
The key is either registering at an online casino that our experts have already vetted in full - which you can find listed at the top of this review. Or, you can do your own due diligence via Google or personal recommendations, always with an eye on licensing in particular. Always make sure whichever place you join is fully licensed and regulated by an accepted governing body. This is real money gambling we are talking about after all, so you want to make sure your choice is legit.
You may also want to read through the casino's terms and conditions first to make sure everything is above board and acceptable, like wagering requirements for clearing bonuses and withdrawal policies. Other than that, if the casino ticks the safety boxes, you are good to go.
Payment Limits at USD Coin Crypto Casinos
It is always a good idea to check an online casino's banking limits to make sure you are on the same page in terms of your expectations. This applies whether you want to go with really low risk and minimal investment, or if you are a high roller player and want to be able to bank in kind.
From our experience, crypto casinos are more relaxed in terms of payment limits. An upper limit for deposits and withdrawals is rare with USD Coin, as it is with all other cryptocurrencies. It is precisely this fact that makes playing in USDC casinos particularly attractive for high rollers who don't want to restrict themselves.
Depending on the provider, however, a minimum deposit amount may be set, so check this out if you plan to play with a smaller budget. Usually it is not much, like thestandard $10-$20, so it shouldn't be an issue. Strict limits are not a thing to worry about with digital currency gambling.
Game Selection at USDC Casinos
USD Coin casinos are no different from other crypto casinos, or regular old online casinos for that matter. That means if USDC is offered as a payment method, all games offered by the casino will be open to you for play - so you can enjoy slots, roulette, blackjack, live gaming, or sports betting to your heart's content.
As an idea, these game types (and more!) are available at USD Coin casinos:
Online slot machines
Roulette
Poker
Dice games
Blackjack
Baccarat
Card games
Video poker
Live casino games
Sports betting
Virtual sports
Esports
Since this is crypto gambling, you will often find even more options than at standard online casinos thanks to popular originals like Plinko, Mines, and Crash.
Generally speaking, all USDC casinos have at least the same selection of games as classic online providers. In fact, many even offer exclusive games only for cryptocurrency betting, making them all the better.
The exact range of games you will find always depends on the USDC casino you have chosen. For guidance, you can always turn to our casino reviews. Or you can easily venture over to any establishment and get a quick overview of what is available for yourself.
In addition to game categories, you will also be able to find all the top titles around from leading providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, and more!
Tips and Tricks for Gambling Online with USD Coin
There are not a lot of aspects to consider when it comes to USDC. It is a non-mining stable coin that is also based on the proven and secure ETH blockchain. Players gambling with USDC do not have to worry about it possibly losing value while it's in their crypto casino account.
Conversely, owning 100 USDC - or a win of this amount - will not lead to sudden capital gain in the millions. Tokens like this one and the well-known USDT (aka Tether) are suitable for players who value stability, and expectations should be set accordingly.
Also, do not expect to find too many USD Coin casinos out there at the moment. We will admit they are rare, but the way things are going, we would imagine it becoming more ubiquitous in the iGaming industry too.
And that is really all there is to know. Which means to say, unfortunately we do not have any actual tips to offer you beyond general advice which we would always give when it comes to wagering real money online. And that means things like:
checking bonus terms and conditions,
only gambling what you can afford,
and keeping gambling fun by viewing it as a hobby rather than a source of income.
As for using this type of coin in particular, there are only a few small things to add in terms of useful tips, which can help. For example:
Buy tokens in advance so you can deposit at will
Trade through secure exchanges like Coinbase
Choose a crypto exchange with low fees
Pay attention to bonuses and compare
Casino customers in Europe might not be able to exchange euros for USD Coins on their chosen crypto exchange platform. It therefore makes sense to select another digital currency beforehand and "stock up" on it if you want things to be faster and more flexible.
USD Coin Bonuses
If you are into bonuses, then beyond checking whether the casino offers a first deposit bonus, you need to make sure that this welcome offer is also relevant to USDC deposits.
The same goes for promotions. You want to ensure that the place you choose is into giving out cash bonuses that include USDC, such as reload bonuses and the likes. And if loyalty programs are of interest, this should be delved into further too. In other words, it can be worthwhile to compare offers, and use that information together with your priorities before deciding where to play.
Some Popular Alternatives for Gambling in Crypto Coins
Like we said, unfortunately USD Coin is not yet offered all that often as a payment option at crypto casinos. Instead, many companies in the industry focus on the more popular coins, such as BTC and ETH - ie. the ones that pretty much all players know.
While you can find casinos that accept USD Coin, they are more the exception than the rule. Options for banking with cryptos like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, or Ethereum are generally going to be easier to find.
Keep in mind that once you set up a crypto wallet, your options are going to be pretty flexible, especially if you're willing to exchange. On a platform like Coinbase, you can easily sell your USD Coin for Bitcoin, and vice versa.
USD Coin FAQs
Needless to say, no crypto review of ours would be complete without an FAQ section to give you an at-a-glance response to some of our readers' most common questions. And if you still have one you think we have missed, we are always here to help. So let's begin!
Nobody likes to pay fees. But the way the blockchain works is that small fees are always going to be charged. That being said, the USDC transaction fees are not only small, but generally less than other popular cryptos.
The casino for its part will not charge a transaction fee. In fact, if you find a casino that does, we would generally say that should be considered a red flag, ie. a casino not worth joining.
We covered this in the section above, but since it is such a popular question, it is worth reiterating. Tether and USDC are extremely similar with both linked to the US dollar in terms of their value. Both are therefore considered stablecoins.
The main difference is that at the moment Tether is better known, probably because it has been around for longer, but many prefer USD Coin for what is considered greater transparency.
Other standout differences are that the USD Coin runs on smart contracts and uses Ethereum blockchain technology. The fact that USDC cooperates with real banks and auditors, hence the association with being more transparent than any other stablecoins on the market, is also an advantage. Then, there is the direct Coinbase connection, with the prominent crypto exchange having worked on USD Coin's development and giving it an upper-hand in terms of distribution.
Basically, USD Coins are available on many crypto exchanges. Canadians can buy directly with Canadian dollars in many places. If you have a problem, there is always the workaround of buying with a different cryptocurrency.
As with any crypto cash, you can keep it stored either in a digital Ethereum wallet or a hardware wallet depending on the level of safety, security, and convenience you are after. Once in your wallet you can spend it like regular cash, including deposits at a casino, using either your wallet address or QR code instead of swiping a credit card.
Currently, our team of experts is only aware of a few operators in the industry that accept USDC payments. There really is not all that much choice involved. But rest assured, the few that are available have passed our comprehensive tests and are reputable and secure providers regulated and monitored by recognized authorities, with licensing.
To this end, transactions take place within minutes, and players usually do not have to wait long to cash out their winnings. And of course, all games have random results either through a built-in RNG, or in the case of crypto games, provably fair algorithms.
However, there is only so much the casino itself can do. We all need to take responsibility to stave off gambling addiction and set personal limits from the outset. Many of the better casinos actually have various safer gambling tools onsite - like deposit limits or play breaks - which you can use to stay in control and keep your gambling safer.
The USDC always adapts to the dollar exchange rate. If you purchased it with American dollars, the value will stay more or less the same. That is the stable part in why it is called a stablecoin.
That being said, the value of the US dollar itself does fluctuate. So if you made your purchase with a different fiat like the Canadian dollar or another cryptocurrency, there could be some fluctuation in terms of value - though the ups and downs will be far less than what has traditionally been seen with digital coins like BTC.
6.) What are the advantages of using a stablecoin for transactions at an online casino?
In the long term, stable coins like the USDC have elements that make them interesting to players in crypto casinos. The most relevant is the lack of volatility. For many casino players, the games themselves are enough of a gamble. They don't need the added risk of what can essentially be a double gamble when you get into highly volatile cryptos like Bitcoin, which can quickly lose or gain value. That consistency element is strong and appealing.
Similarly, with a stable value, you can keep better track of your bets as 1 USDC is basically $1 and we all know what that means, as opposed to 1 BTC which can be anyone's guess.
Like other cryptos, transactions are faster than other methods like credit cards, which can bog you down with their internal bureaucracy. And, of course, there is more privacy than traditional banking methods too.
Bottom line, even if USDC is not a cryptocurrency that can be found as a payment option in every online casino, the token has proven itself in many ways. Although Bitcoin and Ethereum will continue to be more attractive to investors for their profit-making potential, USD Coin has increasingly become popular as a way to secure crypto capital and allow people to park their money in a way that keeps it both safe and soluble.
Also, you can be sure it will keep its worth in line with the US dollar, which although it has dropped in value more recently, remains a relatively stable currency. Most importantly, because the price is stable, you can use USDC to actually buy things.
So if the rare casino that accepts this digital coin beckons, then we say go for it! USDC gambling is in a way less of a risk than with other crypto coins, since its value won't fluctuate as you play. Which we see as a real advantage. But in the end, as with all things gambling, that is up to you.
I've been working in the online casino landscape in Malta for more than 10 years and have seen how the industry works from customer service roles to the backend of the business. While I am lucky enough to call myself a native on the sunny island called Malta, I also enjoy travelling and have travelled across Canada! After wandering through the great white north, I have decided to share my knowledge and now work with Canadian players to compile accurate casino reviews to help players navigate through the hundreds of gaming sites online.
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