Cryptocurrencies has created a shift in how many players interact with online casinos. Bitcoin remains the top gambling choice since 2012, with the number of cryptocurrency bets skyrocketing by 83.6% compared to mid-2022. The crypto gambling industry has surged from $50 million in 2019 to a massive $250 million in 2024, demonstrating the remarkable growth in a short time.
The appeal of cryptocurrencies for gambling extends beyond simple curiosity and modern trends. Casino transactions made in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other digital currencies are processed instantly. This includes withdrawals and, in most cases, the money arrives within an hour. In comparrison, standard bank transfers can take several days to process. This, combined with enhanced privacy and reduced transaction costs, has made cryptocurrencies a solid choice for many gamblers. Roughly $3 worth of cryptos are gambled daily, so it’s safe to say it’s popular.
Key Features to Consider When Choosing a Crypto Casino
When selecting a crypto casino, several critical factors should influence your decision. It’s advised to use a review website to compare and find the best cryptocurrency online casino for you, but a few important factors to consider are:
- Transaction speed, especially withdrawals
- Transaction fees for cryptocurrency transactions
- Security features and license
- Crypto bonuses and other rewards
- Number of available cryptocurrencies
- High security and provably fair games
- Cryptocurrency casino games
- Regulations and local laws (not all jurisdictions allow cryptos for gambling)
Some online casinos allow you to purchase cryptocurrencies directly on their platform at an added fee, which may be more costly than other means of obtaining them. However, it is an easy option for beginners to get started with crypto gambling.
Market volatility presents both opportunities and challenges. While price fluctuations can potentially increase the value of your holdings, they can also create uncertainty in your gambling budget. Choosing one of the more stable cryptocurrencies can be safer unless you enjoy the added risk.
The Top 5 Cryptocurrencies for Online Gambling
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin stands as the undisputed king of cryptocurrencies, and has a naturally high popularity amongst gamblers. They established themselves as the gold standard since the early days of crypto casinos and remain the most popular option worldwide.
Created by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, Bitcoin represents the first successful implementation of blockchain technology and decentralized digital currency.
According to an article on Next.io, 60% of all Bitcoin transactions made are related to gambling. Its popularity in gambling stems from its widespread acceptance across virtually all crypto casinos, strong liquidity, and established reputation. It’s the top of mind for most people when asked to name a cryptocurrency, and it shows.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Bitcoin Cash was created through one of the most contentious debates in cryptocurrency history, splitting the Bitcoin community and creating two distinct cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin Cash emerged in 2017 as a hard fork from Bitcoin, designed to address scalability issues that had plagued the original cryptocurrency.
The primary motivation behind BCH was to increase block size limits, allowing for faster transaction processing and lower fees compared to traditional Bitcoin. For gambling purposes, Bitcoin Cash offers significant advantages, including consistently lower transaction fees and faster confirmation times than the original Bitcoin.
The larger block size means that even during high network activity, BCH maintains reasonable fees, making it ideal for frequent gamblers who value cost-effectiveness without sacrificing the reliability associated with the Bitcoin brand.
Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum became a game-changer by introducing smart contracts, thereby creating a programmable blockchain that extends far beyond simple transactions.
A fascinating aspect of Ethereum is that it powers the majority of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), making it the backbone of much of the modern crypto ecosystem.
In gambling contexts, Ethereum’s smart contract functionality enables provably fair gaming mechanisms and automated payouts, which both enhance the transparency and trust between the gamblers and the gambling site. Many innovative gambling platforms leverage their unique capabilities to create a different experience, for example, in decentralized casinos where the house edge is programmatically guaranteed.
The biggest downside is Ethereum’s transaction fees, which can fluctuate significantly based on network congestion. However, it is a versatile cryptocurrency with many gambling applications built on its platform, so it’s an easy choice for many gamblers.
Tether (USDT)
Tether is one of the most widely adopted stablecoins. It’s designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to the US dollar, and is a considerably safer choice than, for example, Bitcoin, which is known for its high fluctuations.
A fascinating fact about Tether is that it consistently ranks among the top cryptocurrencies by trading volume, often exceeding Bitcoin in daily transaction volume across global exchanges. They had a daily trading volume averaging at $90 billion in 2025, with Bitcoin far less at just $38 billion.
For gambling, USDT’s stability eliminates the concern of value fluctuations that can significantly impact gambling budgets with other cryptocurrencies. Players don’t need to worry about their funds losing value due to market volatility. As long as the USD is stable, so will Tether be. This predictability makes USDT particularly appealing to professional gamblers and those who prefer to focus on gaming strategy rather than cryptocurrency price movements. It also makes it easier for those who are used to the value of the Dollar.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin began as a joke in 2013. It was a parody of the cryptocurrency craze, featuring the popular “Doge” meme with a Shiba Inu dog as its mascot. It’s considered both the first “meme coin” and, more specifically, the first “dog coin”. Despite its satirical nature, today it has become a legitimate investment prospect and a popular choice for gambling online.
A big reason for its popularity comes from its endorsements by celebrities like Elon Musk, which have gained a massive following as a result.
The average transaction fee for Dogecoin is approximately $0.04, which makes it an economical choice for small-scale and frequent transactions, with relatively fast transaction speed, averaging around 1 minute.
It has extremely low fees and quick transaction times, both features that make it perfect for casual players and those who enjoy frequent, smaller-stakes games.
