QR tech in iGaming: India’s role in payment innovation
Cash continues to dominate much of the global gambling industry, particularly in land-based casinos. However, the way players fund accounts and withdraw winnings is changing rapidly, driven by wider shifts in digital payments and mobile finance.
In online gambling and sports betting, cards are no longer the only default option. Digital wallets, instant bank transfers, eCash solutions, and, in some markets, cryptocurrencies are increasingly shaping how players choose where, and how often, they play.
Data from the Paysafe Global Player Survey illustrates these trends. According to 2024 figures, nearly 58 percent of players claimed they use alternative payment methods like online wallets more frequently. Further data published by Paysafe in 2025 shows how quickly habits are evolving. In Europe, digital wallets now account for 38 percent of iGaming payment usage, nearly matching debit cards at 42 percent, reflecting the growing dominance of mobile-first and instant payment solutions.
Taken together, these findings point to a clear trend: as players become more accustomed to frictionless digital payments in everyday life, expectations are rising for gambling operators to offer the same level of choice, speed, and reliability.
Understanding the QR payment tech
One more emerging system that is gaining global traction is QR-based payments. The concept is straightforward: a player scans a QR(Quick Response) code using a smartphone and pays via a wallet, card, or direct bank account.
India leads the way in adoption. Its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has propelled QR payments to unprecedented scale, with over 678 million QR codes deployed by mid-2025, more than double the number recorded 18 months earlier. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports that UPI QR codes grew 91.5 percent year-on-year in FY2024–25, outpacing growth in credit and debit card infrastructure.
Digital payments accounted for 99.8 percent of total payment volume in India in the first half of 2025, with UPI and QR transactions leading the shift. Major apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm power these payments, while banks continue to expand nationwide adoption.
Globally, Asia-Pacific remains the hub for QR adoption, led by China, Japan, and India, where QR codes are integrated extensively into daily commerce. India’s UPI-based QR payments are now supported in countries including France, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, and the UAE, enabling cross-border digital transactions while maintaining fraud safeguards. In China, consumers scan codes 10–15 times a day, generating trillions of dollars in annual transactions. QR adoption is also rising in Europe and North America.
QR payments in online gaming?
Experts often label QR payments as one of the most secure and easiest to track. But can this technology be deployed in iGaming payments? To explore the feasibility, SiGMA News spoke to Julian Goffin, Co-founder and CEO of Alunafi Ltd.
– Julian Goffin, Co-founder and CEO, Alunafi Ltd.
“If implemented correctly, QR payments can enhance both security and user experience,”
On the question of whether QR payments can guarantee security for every iGaming user, Goffin explained: “QR on its own doesn’t make payments secure; it’s just a way of initiating the transaction. What really matters is what sits behind the QR code.”
He added, “When players scan a code and approve the payment in their banking app or wallet, they never have to type card details into a merchant site. This reduces exposure to phishing pages, keyloggers, and poorly implemented forms. At the same time, operators gain confidence that the payment originates from a verified account.”
Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) is also embedded in the process. “The system typically triggers biometric or PIN confirmation in the user’s banking app, providing PSD2-level authentication by design,” he said.
Operators also enjoy additional security benefits. Goffin stressed, “They never see or store sensitive card or banking details. They receive only a payment confirmation rather than raw credentials, reducing PCI scope and limiting the impact of any potential data breach on the merchant side.”
Layering additional protection in iGaming
Goffin highlighted that platforms can enhance security by restricting QR payments to regulated providers and licenced accounts. “This ensures that funds always move between KYC-verified endpoints, giving secure knowledge of the payer’s identity,” he explained.
However, he cautioned that no method can guarantee 100 percent security in all situations. “No payment method can guarantee security for every user in every situation. Social engineering and account takeovers remain risks. But when QR payments are embedded within a robust stack, strong authentication, transaction monitoring, responsible gambling controls, and transparent refund processes, they can be among the safest and most user-friendly ways to fund accounts and withdraw winnings.”
India sets the bar
Goffin pointed to India as a case study in scaling QR payments. “India is the clearest example of combining real-time rails, a common QR standard, and a simple user experience,” he said. Goffin stressed that UPI and interoperable QR codes have transformed a previously fragmented system of wallets, cards, and bank transfers into a single, real-time payments layer used by street vendors, major retailers, apps, subscription services, and peer-to-peer networks.
He highlighted three global effects of India’s QR adoption. “First, it proves that billions of low-value, real-time transactions can be executed daily if rails, QR formats, and rules are standardised. Second, it has shifted the regulatory mindset — treating payments as public infrastructure while allowing competition encourages innovation and lowers costs. Third, consumer expectations have changed: once people experience ‘scan, tap, done’ with instant settlement, slower T+2 or T+3 processes (where payments settle in two or three days) feel outdated, particularly in fast-moving sectors like iGaming.”
However, he further added that across the world, this system’s adoption is sloppy and slow. “Some forward-looking institutions, including Alunafi, integrated instant payments ahead of regulation. But the QR landscape is fragmented, with multiple bank, wallet, and local schemes far from India’s unified standard.”
But he added that initiatives such as the European Payments Initiative and national instant-pay schemes are clearly inspired by India’s approach. “The influence is visible in the push for instant payments, open banking, and account-to-account alternatives. Achieving India-level QR adoption will take time, but the trajectory is clear.”
Ultimately, Goffin believes QR payments could become a cornerstone of safe, efficient iGaming transactions. “With proper design and oversight, QR is not just convenient — it can be a secure, user-friendly method that transforms how players fund accounts and cash out winnings worldwide,” he concluded.
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