"Stablecoins have really become the base currency for crypto gambling" – interview with Andrew Shepard

Stablecoins have become an integral part of the crypto industry and have taken a special place in online gambling. Players increasingly choose USDT, USDC, and other stablecoins instead of Bitcoin or Ether. The reason is obvious. It is the absence of sharp volatility. But does this really make betting safer? We discussed this with Andrew Shepard, an online roulette expert and Head of Product at Roulette77.

Stablecoins are now increasingly used in online gambling. Why have they so quickly become the players’ choice?

It all started when players grew tired of constant price fluctuations. When you place a bet in Bitcoin or Ether, you are not only gambling but also forced to follow cryptocurrency charts. This turns the process into a double risk, although many see it as a double opportunity. Stablecoins removed this factor, and the market quickly embraced the idea. In addition, USDT and USDC became available on all major exchanges and in most wallets. This means that for players, the entry barrier or learning curve has practically disappeared. You can convert funds into stables in seconds and just as easily use them for gambling. Simplicity and predictability turned out to be more important than the potential volatility of crypto.

If we compare USDT or USDC with Bitcoin and Ether, what is the key difference for a roulette or slots player?

The difference is very noticeable. When a player bets in Bitcoin, he must understand that the win or loss in an hour or a day may be worth a completely different amount in fiat equivalent. Some people like this, as a kind of “double game”. But most people want a sense of stability. A bet should remain a bet and not turn into an investment. There are other opportunities for that. Thus, with stablecoins, you already know that your 100 USDT today and tomorrow will be worth about the same. This makes the gaming process more predictable and removes unnecessary stress. After all, most players ultimately come for the emotions of the game, not for cryptocurrency charts.

For many, stablecoins are about convenience and predictability. What advantages do players feel most strongly in practice?

All this follows from my previous answer. The first advantage is budget control. The player knows exactly how much he spends and can plan his bankroll without the risk that exchange rates will “eat” part of his funds. The second is speed. Transfers in stablecoins take minutes, and fees are often lower than with traditional banking methods. And another important point is versatility. Many crypto casinos accept dozens of coins, but stables have become the base currency. It is convenient: you do not need to think about which coin to keep your funds in or how to convert them after the game.

From the perspective of casino operators: how does the shift of players to stablecoins change their business model and processes?

For operators, it is primarily about simplifying conditional accounting. When you work with Bitcoin, you need to take into account exchange rate fluctuations and recalculate profits and losses in real time. With stables, it is much clearer: you work in a “digital dollar”.

There are also operational advantages. Stablecoins integrate faster into payment gateways, reduce cash volatility, and make withdrawals easier for players. But there are also disadvantages. Operators take on the risks of the stablecoin issuer and the potential consequences of regulatory restrictions.

All stables are pegged to the dollar. How important is this peg for the industry? Could an alternative appear?

The dollar remains the main currency of the world economy, and that is why dollar stablecoins have become the standard. It is easier for players and operators to think in familiar terms: a deposit in “digital dollars” is immediately clear. But an alternative is possible. Even today, we see projects experimenting with euro stablecoins or even with tokens pegged to gold. The question remains who will be able to provide liquidity and trust. If a reliable euro stable with strong exchange support appears, it could take its place.

We have already seen cases of depeg. What will happen if a major stable seriously loses its peg? How will this affect the betting market?

The consequences will be serious. If a major stable like USDT or USDC loses trust, players will instantly begin to withdraw funds. For operators, this may result in a liquidity crisis, and for players, in direct losses. At the same time, the crypto market has already shown that it can adapt. After the collapse of some projects, users switched to more reliable alternatives. But for gambling, it is a blow to trust and reputation. Players value stability, and if it is lost, this will lead to a decline in players.

Can stablecoins today be called the “gold standard” for crypto casinos, or is this just another trend that will eventually give way to something new?

In my subjective opinion, at the moment, stablecoins have really become the “base currency” for crypto gambling. Millions of players use them, and they solve the key problem of crypto volatility while keeping all the advantages of crypto payments. Therefore, it does not look like a short-term trend.

But the market does not stand still. Perhaps in five years, new forms of digital money will appear, such as state-issued CBDCs or more stable decentralized stables. Then the balance of power will change again. But right now, stablecoins are truly the standard around which the industry is built.