Can high risk payments deliver sustainable growth in Asia’s iGaming markets?
A feature in SiGMA Magazine issue 36 presents a detailed conversation with Irene Markou, Head of Payments at EINPAYS Global Ltd, offering a practical view of how high risk payments operate across iGaming, Forex and rapidly developing Asian markets. Released during the previous SiGMA South Asia 2025, the article reflects on payments not as a technical add on, but as a central driver of commercial stability and regulatory confidence.
The discussion centres on EINPAYS’ entry into Sri Lanka, a market shaped by limited card usage, fragmented payment infrastructure and heightened regulatory attention. Rather than attempting to replicate Western payment models, the company focused on adapting to local conditions through banking relationships, region specific controls and clear compliance frameworks. As Markou observes, “In a world where risk is high, innovation and resilience define success.”
Why high risk payments require local understanding
In Asian iGaming environments, payments influence far more than transaction approval. They affect player trust, settlement cycles and the willingness of banks to support operators. The feature explains how EINPAYS aligned onboarding, acquiring and settlement processes with local realities, ensuring that speed did not come at the expense of regulatory comfort. “We don’t just navigate challenges, we turn them into opportunities for growth and trust,” Markou says, highlighting the link between compliance and long term viability.
Operationally, the approach combined multi rail routing with redundancy across processing and reconciliation. By strengthening connections to e-wallets, bank transfers and QR based payment rails, EINPAYS was able to reduce downtime while keeping approval rates consistent. Transparent documentation and transaction visibility further supported dialogue with banks and merchants operating in high risk categories.
Turning local rails into commercial advantage
Sri Lanka features in the article as an example of how payment execution can directly influence operator performance. Faster settlements, adjusted to peak gaming periods, alongside support for cross border alternative payment methods and multi currency settlement including USDT and USDC, allowed operators to manage liquidity with greater confidence.
Approval rate improvements followed the introduction of local acquiring and clearer segmentation of high risk merchants, enabling banks to fine tune risk exposure while limiting unnecessary declines. One week onboarding timelines were paired with continuous fraud monitoring, helping operators move quickly without weakening controls. As Markou notes, “Where others see risk, we see the opportunity to create solutions that empower businesses and inspire trust,” capturing how operational discipline translates into measurable outcomes.
APMs and player behaviour in Asia
The feature also addresses the shift in player expectations across Asia, where mobile first behaviour and familiarity with QR payments and super apps have changed how transactions are perceived. Card payments, often slower and more costly, are increasingly out of step with local habits. In contrast, alternative payment methods support faster deposits and smoother onboarding. EINPAYS reports double digit improvements in deposit success and between 20 and 40 percent higher first deposit conversion when instant APMs are enabled. “Players expect local payment options, not just cards,” Markou explains.
Dynamic routing plays a key role in this process, directing transactions to the rail most likely to succeed for each user at that moment. This flexibility helps maintain uptime while extending access to harder to serve segments through local wallets and QR based schemes.
As the SiGMA Roadshow 2025 summits come to a close, attention now turns to SiGMA’s Global Tour 2026, which will bring eight international summits to markets worldwide, continuing industry discussions around payments, regulation and sustainable growth in both emerging and established regions.
