A future free of registration

True innovation is rarely seen in gaming. Usually it’s limited to side games or borrowed from other industries. However, with rising interest and changing regulations, innovations are cropping up that make it easier for players to get in on the action.

Operators have been considering ways to make the gaming experience better and more immersive than ever. So what does that look like? Imagine entering a gaming site and being able to play your favorite games right away, without even registering. It’s faster for sure, but also simpler and more secure. Well, this fantasy is becoming a reality thanks to the advent of no-registration gaming sites.

How do no-registration gaming sites work?

Traditionally, registering at a gaming site has involved filling out lengthy registration forms and then waiting days for the operator to conduct its due diligence. But now new players can play instantly without registration while still allowing operators to stay compliant with the regulators, through the monitoring of both transactions and players who show signs of addictive and/or high-risk behavior.

Players can click “Make a bet,” enter the amount they wish to deposit, and verify themselves with their online banking credentials to complete the deposit. The process of verifying oneself through the online bank is incredibly safe thanks to strong two-factor authentication methods.

Once the player’s identity is verified, registration details are pulled from the account to fulfill the necessary KYC checks and the operator can establish an account in the background. Even when players leaves the site, their account is safe. When they return, they simply log in through their bank again, and continue playing.

Not only is this gaming experience more seamless for the players, but operators also benefit. Because the registration and deposit steps are combined, the possibility of a player registering but not depositing is eliminated, which aids in decreasing cost of acquisition, lowering abandonment rates and boosting retention rates.

A future free of registration

Gaming sites have already seen rampant success with no-registration technology, proving it’s a model that speaks to consumers’ need for speed, safety and convenience.

And as banks improve the underlying authentication methods to include biometrics, the ease of making a deposit and verifying oneself using online bank payments will continue to increase, even in markets like the UK where online bank payments are not yet a widespread method. PSD2 is also expected to increase the popularity of online bank payments as it opens up consumer data to innovative third-party providers.

These factors point toward a growing preference for online bank payments, which will further drive interest in no-registration gaming sites.

In-banner betting and beyond

Soon, no-registration models will be commonplace in the gaming industry and operators that don’t offer a frictionless sign-up and deposit flow will be left in the dust. So how can operators further differentiate themselves, and where could this technology lead the industry next?

Imagine you’re surfing the web, perhaps reading news about your favorite football team. In a banner to the right, you see an offer to bet on the score of tonight’s match. You place a bet on your team directly within the banner, even though you’ve never visited that specific sportsbook site before. You simply choose the odds and select the amount you wish bet, make a deposit by logging into your online bank via the iframe, and confirm your deposit with your bank’s usual authentication method. You watch the game that evening and it turns out you made a smart bet. When you’re ready to cash out your winnings, you navigate to the site and withdraw the money directly to your bank account.

It’s hard to picture a smoother betting experience, as you never need to register an account or even leave the website you’re surfing. And the applications of this innovation are far-reaching: It could enable shoppers to buy a pair of shoes directly from a banner ad, or let music fans purchase concert tickets with greater ease. It’s a reality we aren’t far away from and one that stands to dramatically reshape not just online gaming, but even e-commerce and even financial services as we know it.