Paysafecard is PartyPoker’s New Payment Processor

Paysafecard is PartyPoker’s New Payment Processor, Ukash and Some Withdrawal Fees Eliminated

This week, PartyPoker announced that as of August 31, 2015, Ukash will no longer be PartyPoker’s online payment processor, as the online poker room operator now has Paysafecard as its new service provider. The announcement also conveyed that effective immediately, many of the much-criticised withdrawal fees, which customers have been harping about for long, will no longer be imposed.

The Ukash elimination and Paysafecard’s designation as PartyPoker’s new online payment processor is actually, not a matter of the former being less favored than the latter. Both payment-processing firms are wholly owned subsidiaries of global leading payments solutions and services company Optimal Payments.

Actually, the Skrill Group originally acquired Paysafecard in August 2013, while Ukash was acquired by Skrill in November 2014 to expand the size and reach of Paysafecard. However, in March 2015, closest competitor Optimal Payments, which owns leading global payment processing brand Neteller, acquired the Skrill Group.

In July 2015, and under Optimal Payment management, Paysafecard announced that effective August 31, 2015 onward, Paysafecard vouchers will be issued to replace all Ukash vouchers across all retail outlets. Holders of outstanding or prepaid Ukash vouchers have until October 31, 2015 to present said vouchers for redemption at online shops.

The elimination of the withdrawal fees on the other hand is a different matter. Apparently, changes have been made to enable PartyPoker players to withdraw money from their account sans the customary withdrawal charges.

This is in line with the objectives of PartyPoker’s “Poker for the People” campaign launched last March 2015. After learning and taking into account the most critical issues that affected player engagement at PartyPoker websites, the online poker company introduced changes, which include the removal of withdrawal fees. As a result, PartyPoker players can now withdraw via several banking options, namely, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Kalixa Pay, Click and Buy, PayPal and by way of bank transfers, free of any withdrawal processing charges.

In a PartyPoker blog, Mr. Golan Shaked, the Director of Games at PartyPoker expressed his pleasure about the changes made at the website. Mr. Shaked stated that listening to their customers is central to their ongoing strategy. He explained that when they commenced with the “Poker for the People” campaign, the loyalty rewards portal and its leveling systems, as well as the withdrawal fees were the two most raised topics at the site’s live player forums. He added that the PartyPoker poker team has worked hard in coming up with changes that would effectively address such issues.

Mr. Shaked mentioned in his blog that there is still work to be done. Apparently, the poker company is still working out ways for eliminating withdrawal charges from the remaining few payment processors who still impose charges on players for withdrawal services.

The Skrill and Neteller brands still collect three 3 percent (3%) as withdrawal processing fees. However, since those two brands operate under the management of a single company, Optimal Payments, it is expected that PartyPoker will announce the removal of such fees as well.