An on-chain deposit is a payment to a casino made as a real transaction recorded on a blockchain, as opposed to an off-chain or internal transfer that happens inside a single platform’s books.
Because it is settled on the public network, an on-chain deposit has to be broadcast, included in a block, and then confirmed a set number of times before the casino credits it. It also pays a network fee that varies with the coin, the chain, and how busy the network is. That is why on-chain deposits are transparent and verifiable on a block explorer, but not instant, and not free.
The alternative you may meet is an off-chain transfer, for example moving funds between accounts on the same exchange or platform, which can be instant and feeless because nothing touches the public chain. When you deposit to a casino from your own wallet, though, you are almost always making an on-chain transfer, so the coin and network must match exactly on both sides.
For example, sending Litecoin from your wallet to a casino’s Litecoin address is an on-chain deposit: you will see it on the blockchain, pay a small network fee, and wait for confirmations before it credits.
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