When it was first introduced back in 2008, Bitcoin was a concept accepted by a very small community of people. The idea of decentralized currency was fun and it tickled imagination, but for the most part it didn't seem feasible on a large scale. However, since 2009 when Satoshi Nakamato, the Bitcoin creator, mined the first block of Bitcoins through to today the idea spread like wildfire.

Of course, as some of you may know, it was first picked up by various shady characters who loved the idea of being able to pay without leaving any trace of the transaction. The Silk Road drug case was the highest-profile black eye on the use of Bitcoin.

Legit Merchants Join the Bitcoin Fray
However, legit and serious merchants have started dabbling with Bitcoin in recent year. As it has become accepted at more online retailers the user base for this crypto-currency grew as well. Today, there are numerous businesses that have no problem with accepting Bitcoin as a way of paying for goods and services.

E-commerce Sites Among the First
Although initially they were afraid of accepting Bitcoin many e-commerce sites today support it as a mainstream payment method.

Dell
Dell, as one of the largest computer technology companies, is a great example of this shift. They proudly accept Bitcoin payments for their products and even offer discount prices for Bitcoin customers.

AirBaltic
Many airline companies will let you pay with the most popular crypto-currency as well. A Latvian company AirBaltic is one of the pioneers in this department. They were among the first airlines to start accepting Bitcoin payments for flight tickets. Many other companies followed their example, which was well-received with many passengers. After all, people love having as many payment methods at their disposal as possible.

Discounts Are Often Part of the Draw for Consumers
If you are new to Bitcoin, you'll find Dell is not the only company offering discounts when this payment method is used. This is primarily because processing fees are either non-existent or very low, making it feasible for the stores and companies to give their products and services at reduced prices. Some places also do it to promote Bitcoin.

Online Poker and Bitcoin: A Match Made in Heaven
There is hardly an online business where cashflow is more important than online poker and online gambling in general. For online poker players specifically, Bitcoin represents a very convenient mode of payment as they are anonymous and secure. One can never be overly concerned about safety of their funds, especially if there are large amounts in play.

Almost Essential for American Poker Players
For online poker players from the United States Bitcoin represent a perfect solution. Since online poker was severely restricted in the US in 2006 and then again in 2011 following the infamous Black Friday events, players were left without reliable payment options. They were no longer to deposit to or withdraw from unlicensed offshore sites. Most banks simply refuse to do business with all sorts of online gambling venues.
Sites that accept Bitcoin sometimes will not even care about your identity. Since the currency operates independent of names and addresses there is no reason for additional checks and verifications. Money you use belongs to you and anything you win you are free to withdraw.
In addition, Bitcoin transactions are very fast so you won't have to wait forever for your withdrawal to be processed, which is a major convenience for online poker players who like to spread their wings over several rooms. One major poker site accepting both American players and Bitcoin is BetOnline.

Bitcoin’s Introduction in Physical Stores
Although this is still a developing trend there are physical stores starting to accept Bitcoin payments as well. You won't find too many around the globe as of yet, but certain retailers and other merchants are starting to realize the same thing their online counterparts have come to understand: More payment methods result in more customers.

The Sacramento Kings NBA franchise is one of those accepting Bitcoin. Whether online or offline they will let you use your crypto-currency to buy game tickets, team memorabilia, and even hot dogs at the games. This just goes to show that Bitcoin can be used potentially anywhere as long as there are people willing to place their trust in them.

The Future of Bitcoin as a Consumer Payment Method
The presence of Bitcoin is growing rapidly in all walks of life. More and more merchants are starting to accept them and, just recently, two large e-wallets in Skrill and Neteller also enabled their customers to fund their accounts with Bitcoins.

If things continue down this path there is a bright future awaiting Bitcoin. People are shifting away from dismissing the concept and are slowly starting to realize all the benefits it offers. Of course, governments of various countries are doing their best to put a much tighter leash on the crypto-currency so there may still be some challenges awaiting in the future.