Read how ClickAndBuy betting work
ClickAndBuy is a defunct e-wallet service that allowed their customers to complete transactions both domestically and internationally without having to re-enter credit card or bank account information into a bunch of different online sites. While using ClickAndBuy betting sites was similar to payment methods such as Skrill and PayPal, they also differed from the mainstream e-wallets by offering lines of credit so you could make purchases without necessarily worrying about your account balance.
While they were never the most popular transaction intermediary, ClickAndBuy did gain some notoriety in sports-betting circles for the flexibility they allowed with account balances and the ease with which they processed international transactions. Really, you can think of ClickAndBuy has a failed Click 2 Pay, another niche e-wallet that has found a market of customers that want lines of credit in addition to transaction facilitation.
It’s important to know how e-wallets work in the sports-betting world, even if they’re defunct, so you can understand how to use similar payment methods. For that reason, we’ll cover everything you need to know about ClickAndBuy.
ClickAndBuy worked just like any other e-wallet. You would visit their site, fill out an application, set up a deposit and payout method (bank account, credit card, etc.) and then begin completing transactions almost immediately.
That said, ClickAndBuy did differ from other e-wallets in that it gave you the option to apply for a line of credit at registration or anytime thereafter. The thinking here is that with a line of credit, you could complete transactions without regard for your ClickAndBuy account balance. It was similar to a tangible credit card, except it was virtual, and you only received a hard copy of it if you requested one.
Why was this an attractive option? Well, again, it was like a centralized financial method for all your online business, be it retail shopping, sports betting or something else. On top of that, though, the fees associated with ClickAndBuy credit lines were cheaper than the interest you would pay on your Visa or Mastercard. Things could get pricey if you carried a negative balance for a while, but if you were looking to pay off what you processed weeks later, you weren’t hit with as large of an interest rate—just the percentage fee to complete the transaction.
Attractive still, ClickAndBuy, like many other e-wallets offered the option of a hard-copy debit card. You could use this to not only withdraw cash from your account—or against your line of credit—at ATMs, but you could treat like any other card and use it on your everyday spending. All of which made ClickAndBuy like an extension of a checking, the main difference being that not as much of your most sensitive personal information was tied to the account itself.
ClickAndBuy ultimately folded in August 2016, leaving behind only a website with frequently asked questions for existing customers. Scanning their homepage is still a good idea now, because it gives you an idea of what could happen if you’re using an e-wallet that ultimately shudders. It tells you how to get your money back if you have an account balance, what to do with your card and any other necessary steps or information.
As for why ClickAndBuy closed down, no concrete reason was ever given. But we can read between the lines. E-wallet service is a competitive business, and ClickAndBuy was up against heavyweights like Neteller, PayPal and Skrill. It also didn’t help them that Click 2 Pay proved to be higher functioning when it came to international transactions, and that the rise of services like Apple Pay, Venmo, Zelle et al. began to cut into their business.
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Click and Buy Screenshot Two
Click and Buy Screenshot Two
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Allow us to explain.
E-wallets in general aren’t complicated to use at sportsbooks. They are among the most common payment forms used to underwrite deposits and withdrawals. Whenever you head into the deposit section of your online gaming site, you’ll be able to see some of the most prominent e-wallets that are accepted—usually Neteller, Skrill and PayPal. Hence why e-wallets are so appealing for sports gamblers. They give you a central hub for all your transactions, no matter how many betting sites you use, and they’re almost universally accepted. If for some reason you don’t see your e-wallet listed at your sportsbook, a quick inquiry to the customer service department should let you know whether it’s taken or not.
ClickAndBuy betting sites specifically, though, were a bit of a headache. Only a handful of sportsbooks accepted it, in part because it was smaller than many of the mainstream sites, but also of the complications attached to their lines of credit. Major online bookies all took it. But if you were using a smaller niche site, you were probably out of luck.
To get a feel for which sites are still among the best for all e-wallets in general, we’ve researched some of the best ClickAndBuy betting sites. Why? Because if they took ClickAndBuy, you can be almost 100 percent sure they’ll take whatever other e-wallet you might use or are thinking about using now.
If the idea of ClickAndBuy or e-wallets at large intrigues you, then you’re in luck. We’ve got the lowdown on all the best alternative options.
In terms of which e-wallets are most widely accepted at sportsbooks, we’ve found all of the following to be quasi-universal payment methods: PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Venmo, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Ecopayz, Samsung Pay, Click 2 Buy and Zelle.
Now, if you’re in the market for an e-wallet that also offers lines of credit, your options are narrowed down to Click 2 Buy and PayPal. Forced to choose between the two, we’d endorse PayPal. They are accepted at far more sportsbooks, don’t include as many fees and have an easier registration process.
When using e-wallets to bankroll gambling accounts, bonuses and fees are everything.
First and foremost, you need to understand all the charges associated with your e-wallet. Does the e-wallet company charge a fee when you send or receive money? How about when you transfer money to your bank account? Does your sportsbook charge a fee on deposits made via e-wallets? And what about withdrawals? Answering these questions is important, because you need to know your financial overhead going into the betting process.
Your goal should be to offset all of these fees with your initial deposit bonus. If your e-wallet doesn’t charge a slew of fees, you can settle for smaller promotions, such as free bets, casino game spins, an extra $25, etc. But if you’re looking at more substantial fees, like a percentage of the entire transaction, you need to be more ambitious and focus on sites that offer 50 percent matching bonuses, if not more.
At this point, after reading about the demise of ClickAndBuy and the fees associated with e-wallets in general, you might be wondering why you would want to use this payment method at all? We can answer that in one word: Security.
Sure, online sportsbooks are perfectly fine at protecting your financial information. They have to be. They’re taking in and paying out truckloads of money each and every day. But a little extra security never hurt, and e-wallets, including ClickAndBuy when it was open, give that to you in vast amounts.
Their best attribute is acting as a central hub for all of your online transactions. Rather than inputting your credit card number or bank account information into a treasure trove of different sites, you instead need to register that intel with one—your e-wallet. You can then use that account to pay for everything, without ever having to re-enter your most sensitive information.
This is ideal for anyone who has considered—or is already—using multiple sportsbooks. E-wallets can act as one payment method, both on deposits and withdrawals, for all your accounts. It even makes book-to-book transactions easier, assuming you’re willing to wait a little longer, because you can transfer money from one site to your e-wallet then to another site without incurring any demonstrative fees.
Buh-Bye, ClickAndBuy
ClickAndBuy has now been closed for years, and it’s shuddering is a cautionary tale for those interested in betting by way of e-wallets: Always choose the most established, recognizable brands. They’re much less likely to go out of business, which means you won’t have to worry about figuring out how to recoup active balances from a company that’s about to close their doors.
Alternatives to ClickAndBuy?
There are of course no more ClickAndBuy betting sites. There are plenty of e-wallets out there from which you can use. Based on our research, the most popular and effective alternatives to ClickAndBuy include PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Venmo, Apple Pay and Click 2 Buy. This list is by no means gospel. There are other e-wallets to look at, some of which we mentioned above. These are just our favorites, because they’re the most universally accepted at online gaming sites.
Trust E-Wallets
This should serve as a reminder that you need to extensively research the best e-wallets, prioritizing the most reputable and longest-active ones, so that you don’t find yourself in an awkward situation. But ClickAndBuy’s failure should not be a motive for you to abandon e-wallet services altogether. They are among the most secure online payment methods you can use. And for those who still wish to have a hard copy of their card, most of these options can provide you with one, so you’re able to use it not just at sportsbooks, but at ATMs and on everyday in-person spending elsewhere.