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TrueLayer launches PayDirect, a new approach to seamless online payments in iGaming
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PayDirect, a new service from the UK’s open banking leader, TrueLayer, combines one-click verification with instant deposits and withdrawals to deliver the most complete payments experience.
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It delivers a higher-converting, lower-fraud payments approach when compared to card and bank transfer.
TrueLayer, the leading technology company building financial infrastructure that’s open to everyone today announced the launch of PayDirect, a new open banking-based payments method enabling iGaming firms to create a higher-converting, lower-fraud payments approach when compared to card and bank transfer. TrueLayer is working with a number of iGaming operators who are embracing opening banking as a more secure, cost-effective way to deliver superior player experiences.
Today, identity and verification flows and card-based payments typically generate avoidable friction along the customer journey, affecting adoption and retention rates and generating unnecessary costs. The introduction of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) this year adds another layer of friction to cards with workarounds that deliver a poorer customer experience.
PayDirect is the answer to those issues, enabling firms to stay compliant while delivering a frictionless customer experience. Built on open banking and the fastest available bank payment rails, it provides firms with instant payments and withdrawals, while accelerating KYC and AML processes, to deliver the most complete solution on the market.
“As players experience seamless digital services in other aspects of their lives, their expectations for iGaming are also changing. PayDirect builds on our payments expertise to solve some significant issues around onboarding, deposits and withdrawals to help operators deliver an experience that is fit for the digital age,” commented Ossama Soliman, Chief Product Officer at TrueLayer. “The ability to quickly and easily verify a customer’s identity, and move money instantly in and out of an account using bank to bank payments, while automatically complying with AML regulations, is hugely beneficial to both the player and the operator.”
With PayDirect iGaming operators, can deliver new levels of services to their customers, all from within their app, in a matter of minutes, through:
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Account verification – Instantly verify account ownership based on what’s on file at a customer’s bank.
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Instant account funding – users can initiate payments or move money between accounts effortlessly using open banking.
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Seamless online payments – that reduce fraud and chargebacks at any checkout.
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Instant withdrawals – users can initiate payouts, using the same method used for deposits, automatically meet AML requirements, while avoiding manual data entry like bank account number or IBAN.
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Instant refunds – providing customers to access their money faster, compared with up to 5 days using cards.
PayDirect improves the player experience and delivers a number of significant benefits to iGaming operators, including:
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Up to 3x faster onboarding: PayDirect gets players up and running in a matter of minutes, using open banking and biometric authentication that removes the need for users to remember usernames or passwords.
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Higher payment conversion rates: Once a player has successfully executed a deposit, payment failures tend to be four times lower with PayDirect than cards (on average cards fail up to 15% of the time vs 3.5% with PayDirect). This means more efficient deposits and, more importantly, less time managing failed payments that can ultimately lead to customer churn.
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Increased customer loyalty: Card deposits take up to 3 days to settle, whilst withdrawals can take up to 5 days. PayDirect increases retention by offering customers what they want, instant deposits and withdrawals. Recent research into the iGaming market by YouGov for TrueLayer (Q4 2020) found rapid deposits and payouts consistently topped the list of player priorities, with 8 out of 10 players rating fast payments as important – and they choose their operators accordingly.
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Lower operating costs: PayDirect saves time and reduces cost by automating otherwise manual processes such as payment reconciliation or KYC checks. PayDirect also reduces costs when processing refunds, as they are automatically issued to the same bank account that was used to make the deposit. This reduces opportunities for human error compared to cheque or manual bank transfers as well as cutting down customer support cases on lost or never issued refunds.
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Reduced risk and fraud: With PayDirect account ownership and authentication is handled by the player’s bank. No more chargebacks, no credential sharing or password storage. Service providers can also meet AML requirements by paying out via the same method used for deposits.
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A fully white labelled payment method: integrated open banking capabilities, increase customer trust by the brand owning the end-to-end customer journey, and configuring payment flows.
“The race is on to reimagine the way people pay by leveraging Open Payments architectures. We have seen in banking and ecommerce that great onboarding and payments experiences increase conversion, trust, and retention. But many payment journeys today have not been designed for a digital first world,” added Francesco Simoneschi, co-founder and CEO at TrueLayer. “With PayDirect we’re calling time on cards and their monopoly. We have used our experience and expertise as a leading open banking platform to design a digital and mobile first payment product that combines instant bank payments with instant payouts, refunds and reconciliation capabilities. PayDirect delivers an effortless way to onboard new customers and enable them to quickly initiate payments and withdraw funds. It is the easiest way to create a better, safer and lower cost payments process.”
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Meridianbet Completes Fairbet Acquisition, Expanding Malta Retail Gaming Network Under Golden Matrix Group
Meridianbet, a leading global sports betting and gaming operator and a subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has completed the acquisition of Fairbet Ltd., a licensed retail gaming operator in Malta.
The transaction significantly expands Meridianbet’s physical retail footprint in one of Europe’s most tightly regulated gaming jurisdictions.
Fairbet operates under Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license B2C/195/2011, and the acquisition grants Meridianbet 100% ownership of Fairbet’s retail operations across Malta and Gozo, the archipelago’s second-largest island. The deal expands Meridianbet’s presence beyond its existing locations and further consolidates its position within the Maltese retail gaming market.
As part of the transaction, nine additional retail locations will be integrated into the Meridianbet network, increasing the company’s total number of storefronts in Malta to 20. The enlarged retail estate is expected to operate more than 60 sports betting terminals and over 120 slot machines, significantly boosting Meridianbet’s land-based gaming capacity.
The companies’ previous technology partnership will now transition into full operational integration, with Meridianbet assuming complete operational control of Fairbet’s retail network. All locations will be rebranded under the Meridianbet name, ensuring unified technology, compliance, and customer experience across the portfolio.
Malta’s retail gaming sector is governed by one of the most restrictive regulatory frameworks in Europe, with only three licensed operators permitted to operate retail betting locations: Meridianbet, Izibet (the National Lottery operator), and Fairbet. With Fairbet now wholly owned by Meridianbet, the company effectively controls two of the three retail gaming licenses in the jurisdiction.
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) enforces strict licensing criteria, substantial capital requirements, and rigorous compliance standards that create significant barriers to market entry. These conditions limit competition and create long-term scarcity value for licensed operators that meet the regulatory threshold.
“Completing the acquisition of Fairbet strengthens our position in a market where regulatory barriers create inherent scarcity value,” said Zoran Milosevic, CEO of Meridianbet. “This transaction allows us to expand our retail infrastructure in Malta, while our technology now supports the majority of licensed retail gaming in the country. It reflects our disciplined M&A strategy, targeting high-barrier markets where limited licensing creates durable competitive advantages.”
The Fairbet acquisition aligns with Meridianbet’s broader growth strategy, which combines organic expansion with selective mergers and acquisitions in jurisdictions where regulation encourages consolidation. Malta has been a core operational hub for Meridianbet since 2008, with the company ranking among the country’s originally licensed gaming operators during the early development of the MGA framework.
Malta’s gaming industry benefits from a regulatory regime widely regarded as one of Europe’s most credible. The MGA’s oversight framework emphasizes investor protection, technical compliance, and financial stability, positioning Malta-licensed operators for trust and recognition across international markets.
Meridianbet’s expanded retail footprint across Malta and Gozo enhances its ability to serve both local customers and the island nation’s strong tourism sector. According to Malta’s National Statistics Office, tourist arrivals exceeded three million visitors in 2024, reinforcing the strategic value of a broad, well-positioned retail gaming network
The post Meridianbet Completes Fairbet Acquisition, Expanding Malta Retail Gaming Network Under Golden Matrix Group appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Atlaslive, a provider of B2B iGaming platform technology, has earned a place on the shortlist for the BEST LIVE PLATFORM PROVIDER 2026 category at the SiGMA Eurasia Awards 2026.
The SiGMA Eurasia Awards spotlight excellence across the iGaming, affiliate, and online entertainment industries, honoring companies and solutions that drive innovation, sustainable growth, and measurable impact. The shortlist is announced as part of the SiGMA Eurasia Summit, taking place February 9–11, 2026, at Dubai Festival City in the United Arab Emirates.
“Platform performance is measured in milliseconds, uptime, and player trust. Being shortlisted in this category reflects the technical discipline and delivery standards our teams bring to operators every day.”
—Anastasiia Poltavets, CMO at Atlaslive
Partners, supporters, and members of the community can participate in the awards process through public voting by submitting their support using the following form:
https://share.hsforms.com/11aCinm5wS92yCSiAtXDGUg3s9oo
Taking place during summit week, the awards ceremonies create a key moment for industry professionals to connect, share insights, and celebrate innovation at one of the year’s most prominent gaming events.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive delivers flexible, scalable iGaming platform technology to operators in regulated markets. Focused on performance, reliability, and continuous product development, Atlaslive enables sportsbook and casino operations aligned with diverse business models.
This document is provided to you for your information and discussion only. This document was based on public sources of information and was created by the Atlaslive team for marketing usage. It is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any gambling-related product. Nothing in this document constitutes legal or business development advice. This document has been prepared from sources Atlaslive believes to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and do not accept liability for any loss arising from its use. Atlaslive reserves the right to remedy any errors that may be present in this document.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.
The post Atlaslive Reaches Final Shortlist for Best Live Platform Provider at SiGMA Eurasia 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Atlaslive, a provider of B2B iGaming platform technology, has earned a place on the shortlist for the BEST LIVE PLATFORM PROVIDER 2026 category at the SiGMA Eurasia Awards 2026.
The SiGMA Eurasia Awards spotlight excellence across the iGaming, affiliate, and online entertainment industries, honoring companies and solutions that drive innovation, sustainable growth, and measurable impact. The shortlist is announced as part of the SiGMA Eurasia Summit, taking place February 9–11, 2026, at Dubai Festival City in the United Arab Emirates.
“Platform performance is measured in milliseconds, uptime, and player trust. Being shortlisted in this category reflects the technical discipline and delivery standards our teams bring to operators every day.”
—Anastasiia Poltavets, CMO at Atlaslive
Partners, supporters, and members of the community can participate in the awards process through public voting by submitting their support using the following form:
https://share.hsforms.com/11aCinm5wS92yCSiAtXDGUg3s9oo
Taking place during summit week, the awards ceremonies create a key moment for industry professionals to connect, share insights, and celebrate innovation at one of the year’s most prominent gaming events.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive delivers flexible, scalable iGaming platform technology to operators in regulated markets. Focused on performance, reliability, and continuous product development, Atlaslive enables sportsbook and casino operations aligned with diverse business models.
This document is provided to you for your information and discussion only. This document was based on public sources of information and was created by the Atlaslive team for marketing usage. It is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any gambling-related product. Nothing in this document constitutes legal or business development advice. This document has been prepared from sources Atlaslive believes to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and do not accept liability for any loss arising from its use. Atlaslive reserves the right to remedy any errors that may be present in this document.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.
The post Atlaslive Reaches Final Shortlist for Best Live Platform Provider at SiGMA Eurasia 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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