APM
Alternative Payment Methods
APM (alternative payment methods) are payment methods other than bank cards: e-wallets, local bank transfers, cash vouchers, cryptocurrency and others.
What is APM (Alternative Payment Methods)?
APM (Alternative Payment Methods) is a collective term for payment instruments that are not Visa or Mastercard cards. It includes e-wallets, direct bank transfers, local instant payment systems, cash-based vouchers, mobile payments, BNPL and cryptocurrency settlements. In fintech and payments, APMs give access to customers who do not want to or cannot pay by card.
## How it works
A merchant connects APMs through a payment gateway or PSP that aggregates several methods in one integration. The customer selects a payment method at the cashier, after which the provider redirects them to a bank or wallet, confirms the payment and passes the status back to the merchant. Withdrawals often use the same set of methods, but with separate rules and limits.
## Why APMs matter in gambling and betting
In many jurisdictions, issuing banks and card schemes restrict or block card transactions for gambling merchants. For this reason, online casinos and bookmakers use APMs as their primary or supplementary deposit channel. Method availability directly affects first-deposit conversion and retention, and method-level declines are quickly visible in cashier analytics.
## Common mistakes
Typical mistakes include connecting only one APM with no fallback, ignoring local payment preferences by country, weak checks on whether the payer's name matches the player's name, and underestimating KYC and AML requirements for wallets and vouchers. Teams also often overlook that refund disputes and chargeback procedures for some methods work differently from cards and require separate rules.
FAQ
How do APMs differ from regular card payments?
APMs do not run through the Visa and Mastercard card schemes; they go through banks, wallets, local payment systems or vouchers. As a result, their authorization rules, crediting timelines and refund procedures are different.
Why would a gambling business use several APMs at once?
A single method may be unavailable in a particular country or for some customers. Using several APMs reduces dependence on one provider and helps maintain conversion at the cashier.
Is cryptocurrency an APM?
In the broad sense, yes, it is an alternative settlement method. However, industry reviews often treat cryptocurrency payments as a separate category because of their specific KYC, AML and regulatory requirements.