Paysafe revealed 83% of U.S. bettors want crypto sportsbook deposits while states tighten gambling payment rules and operators race for player retention.
Aadi tracks the fintech and digital payments beat. An MBA in marketing and finance, looks past the headlines to audit payment infrastructure, sportsbook transaction flows, and crypto compliance pressure across U.S. betting markets. My work covers startup funding, iGaming fintech, payment rails, and consumer transaction behavior.
Summary
- Paysafe published its “All the Ways Players Pay Crypto Edition” report after surveying 2,550 U.S. bettors across nine states in March 2026.
- 83% of respondents said they are keen to use cryptocurrency for sportsbook deposits when permitted under state rules.
- 85% of bettors also showed interest in crypto withdrawals while 71% warned they would abandon sportsbooks after poor crypto payment experiences.
- Colorado and Wyoming already permit crypto sportsbook deposits. About 59% and 45% of bettors in those states have funded wagers using digital assets.
- Paysafe launched Pay with Crypto on May 14, 2026 using MoonPay infrastructure and stablecoin conversion technology targeting U.S. iGaming operators.
NYSE-listed Paysafe published its “All the Ways Players Pay Crypto Edition” research report showing that 83% of U.S. online bettors are interested in funding sportsbook wagers using cryptocurrency when state regulations permit the payment method. The March 2026 survey covered 2,550 respondents across Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming. The report positions crypto payments as a competitive acquisition tool for sportsbook operators facing rising player retention pressure. (Paysafe)
The research publication arrives less than one month after Paysafe launched “Pay with Crypto” on May 14, 2026 targeting U.S. iGaming operators and daily fantasy sports platforms. The product supports deposits in USDC, stablecoins, and major cryptocurrencies converted rapidly into U.S. dollars through the company’s existing payment infrastructure. The integration uses MoonPay wallet technology alongside the Paysafe Gateway. Players connect either custodial wallets or external crypto wallets during the funding process.
The Jacksonville-headquartered fintech platform processed annualized transactional volume of $152 billion during 2024. The company employs roughly 3,000 workers across more than 12 countries. The latest crypto betting push reflects strategic positioning inside the growing iGaming payments segment where sportsbook operators continue searching for alternatives to traditional card rails and rising banking restrictions.
According to the survey data.
Colorado and Wyoming currently permit cryptocurrency sportsbook deposits. About 59% of bettors surveyed in Colorado stated they already funded a sportsbook account using digital assets. Wyoming reported 45%. Florida, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania still prohibit crypto-funded sportsbook deposits under current frameworks. Illinois and Virginia maintain regulatory flexibility around crypto-to-cash sportsbook funding products.
The regulatory divide continues widening across U.S. gambling jurisdictions. Massachusetts Gaming Commission implemented a ban on crypto-converted-to-cash sportsbook funding effective Dec. 19. Regulators stated that “crypto is not ready for primetime” while citing money-laundering exposure and weak regulatory oversight concerns. The move coincides with broader state-level restrictions around credit card sports betting deposits and gambling-related consumer debt exposure.
Co-founded in 1996 by a group of payment industry executives, Paysafe provides payment processing, digital wallet infrastructure, and embedded transaction services for gaming, eCommerce, and financial platforms. The company offers products such as PaysafeCash, digital wallet payments, merchant acquiring, and crypto-linked transaction infrastructure.
The survey also exposed operational risk for sportsbook operators experimenting with crypto payments. Around 71% of respondents stated crypto deposits would improve their sportsbook experience. The same percentage also stated they would abandon a sportsbook after poor crypto transaction experiences. Retention pressure remains elevated. Payment failure risk appears material.
Even if cryptocurrency betting payments expand nationally, traditional banking rails continue holding market share. Credit cards accounted for 37% of preferred sportsbook payment methods in the survey. Pay-by-bank transfers also stood at 37%. The data signals that crypto payments may supplement sportsbook transaction flows instead of replacing legacy funding infrastructure.
The MoonPay-backed integration strategy centers around conversion efficiency. Stablecoins and crypto balances are converted rapidly into USD before entering sportsbook ecosystems. The structure reduces direct digital asset exposure for operators. The integration brings crypto payment capability into existing sportsbook cashier systems instead of requiring separate wallet management infrastructure.
The fresh product deployment comes as crypto gambling compliance pressure intensifies across U.S. states. CFPB scrutiny around consumer lending exposure continues increasing. Gambling regulators also remain focused on anti-money laundering compliance standards tied to anonymous wallet funding flows. The move aligns with broader regulatory concern around digital asset traceability inside high-risk payment sectors.
The report did not disclose sportsbook operator adoption numbers.
Paysafe’s latest research publication also doubles as a competitive positioning document. Sportsbook operators supporting crypto deposits and payouts may gain an advantage in player acquisition as payment flexibility becomes a differentiator. The company claims transaction speed and withdrawal efficiency remain major friction points among younger betting users.
On the bottom line, payment experience quality now appears directly tied to sportsbook retention economics.
The broader U.S. online betting market continues scaling. States increasingly restrict credit card gambling deposits while fintech firms push alternative payment methods including stablecoins, pay-by-bank transfers, and digital wallets. According to industry estimates, online sports betting transaction volumes continue rising across regulated states despite tighter compliance standards.
The research also highlights structural changes inside sportsbook transaction behavior. Crypto withdrawals attracted interest from 85% of surveyed bettors. Faster settlement expectations appear central to the shift. Legacy withdrawal systems across sportsbooks often require multi-day processing windows. Stablecoin-linked payout systems compress that timeline considerably.
The company did not disclose revenue contribution from its crypto sportsbook infrastructure products.
Paysafe competes directly or indirectly with other players in this segment such as Coinbase Commerce, MoonPay, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. DraftKings and FanDuel continue dominating sportsbook market share while crypto-linked payment rails emerge as the next transaction battleground.