MENUCasino Deposit Methods
There are dozens of ways to get your money into an online casino, but not every method is available to every potential player. In addition, because of the shifting legal landscape dealing with online gambling and the banking fueling the industry, a method that works today may not be available to you tomorrow. Below you will find an explanation of the different types of deposit methods, descriptions of individual deposit methods and a few words about keeping your money and financial details safe.
How Can I Deposit in My Country
All of the deposit methods listed below are available to players living in certain countries, depending on the method. Some of them are not available to players in other countries. Believe it or not, this changes from time to time, so listing everywhere a method is accepted and isn’t is almost impossible to keep up with.
For example, Neteller used to be the best method for United States residents to fund their online casino accounts but now these same players can’t use it. The best way to find out what methods are currently available for players in your country is to log into the cashier area of your online casino to see what is available. The almost universal method seems to be a credit card, but even they aren’t 100%.
Types of Casino Deposit Methods
Deposit methods for online casinos fall into one of three main types.
Credit / Debit Cards
The one that is most familiar with players is the use of a credit card, debit card or other pre-paid card of some sort. If you are using your credit or debit card you simply enter the card details and the amount you want to deposit into the cashier area of the online casino and in just a few seconds your account is funded and you can start playing. There are times when online casinos have difficulty getting these types of deposits processed because of banking restrictions, but they are always finding new solutions. The pre-paid cards that I mentioned usually work the same as debit or credit cards except you load money onto the card before using it. Visa, MasterCard and American Express all fall into this category.
Direct Transfer
The next type of deposit method involves sending money directly from one place to another. This usually is directly from your bank to the bank of the online casino, but it can also include a service like Western Union. Bank wires and eChecks also fall into this category.
E-Wallets
The final category is called an e-wallet account. E-wallet accounts are like having a virtual bank account between your bank account and all of the places you play online. All of your deposits and withdrawals with online casinos go into and out of your e-wallet and then you can send money back and forth between your bank account and e-wallet account. The use of an e-wallet may seem like an extra step that you don’t need to use, but if you play at more than one online gambling establishment it is really a good process to use.
American Express Credit Cards
American Express is a popular credit card that can be used to make deposits at some online casinos. It is not as widely accepted as Visa and MasterCard, but there are places that take it. Just enter the card details in the cashier area and choose how much to deposit. Deposits made using American Express are usually available for play immediately.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is quickly growing in popularity and can be used to make deposits at a growing number of online casinos. It still isn’t widely accepted, but it looks like it is reaching a point where it may become one of the most accepted deposit methods in the future if it keeps growing. In order to make a deposit using Bitcoin you need to get the information on where to send the deposit from the online casino. Then you log into your account where your Bitcoin is located and initiate a transfer. Bitcoin deposits usually only take a few minutes.
Click2Pay
Click2Pay is an e-wallet account. It is not as popular as Neteller and Skrill, but it is accepted by a large number of online casinos. Like most e-wallet accounts, deposits using Click2Pay are usually available for play in less than a few minutes.
eCheck
Using an eCheck to fund your online casino account is just like using a regular paper check. When you log into your cashier area you will need to input the numbers from your check. These numbers include the routing number, usually the bottom left number, and the account number, usually found to the right of the routing number. Once you enter all of the information the check is processed electronically. You may have to wait a few days for your check to clear before playing depending on the rules and conditions at your online casino.
ECOcard
Even though it is called an ECOcard, making you think it might be something like a credit or prepaid card, an ECOcard actually operates as an e-wallet account. It is growing in popularity and is accepted by a wide range of online casinos.
MasterCard Credit Cards
Using a MasterCard to make a deposit is fast and easy. Just follow the instructions in the casino cashier area. Occasionally you may have a credit card deposit declined, but this is an industry problem and rarely means there is any problem with your card. Payment processor and banking regulations change over time and new processors have to be found. So if your card is declined, try using a different one. You may even be able to use the same card at a later date.
MasterCard Debit Cards
For the purpose of making online casino deposits, a MasterCard debit card operates just like a regular MasterCard credit card.
Neteller
Neteller is a popular e-wallet, joining Skrill as the two most popular ones for gambling transactions. Your Neteller account acts as a virtual account between your bank account and any online casinos where you play. Neteller deposits are usually available for play in a matter of seconds.
PayPal
PayPal is the most popular e-wallet in the world, used by millions of people and businesses every day. However, there are many countries where you are not allowed to use a PayPal account to make a deposit to a gambling business. You attach your bank account to your PayPal account to easily move money between the two. Then you can use the PayPal account to move money into and out of the casino or other businesses.
PaySafe Card
PaySafe cards use a voucher system and works just like a prepaid card. You buy a PaySafe voucher at a local store and then enter the numbers in the cashier at the online casino to make the deposit.
Prepaid Credit Cards
Prepaid credit cards can be purchased at the checkout lines of many popular stores including grocery stores and gas stations. There are a wide range of brands and types available. It is a good idea to check with the support department of your online casino before buying a prepaid card to make sure you know which ones will work. Some of these cards are more difficult to process, so you don’t want to get stuck not being able to use one after you purchased it. Of course you will be able to use it locally in most cases, so you won’t lose your money; you just might not be able to make a deposit with it.
Skrill
Skrill is one of the most popular e-wallets. They operated for years under the Moneybookers name and are well known around the world. Once your account is funded, making deposits and withdrawals from online casinos is fast and easy.
UKash
UKash operates like a prepaid card in some ways and an e-wallet in others, and it uses a voucher system. You can buy a voucher at thousands of locations around the world or buy one online. When you buy a voucher locally it is like a prepaid card. When you buy one online it acts like an e-wallet. Either way, once you have your voucher you simply enter the details from it in the cashier area of your online casino and you are ready to play.
Visa Credit Cards
When you want to make a deposit using a Visa credit card, just log into the cashier section at the online casino and enter your card number, expiration date and code from the back of the card. Pick how much you want to deposit and make sure your address on file matches the billing address of the credit card.
Visa Debit Cards
Operating just like Visa credit cards, you simply follow the same instructions as those listed for them above.
Western Union
Western Union has places to send and receive money all around the world. You go to a Western Union location, fill out a form, pay a fee and the money is available to be picked up at another Western Union location. You need to get the information about who to send the money to from the casino where you want to play before heading to your local Western Union location.
Wire Transfer or Bank Wire
A wire transfer or bank wire is a process where you send money directly from your bank to the bank account of your online casino. They are one of the safest methods for making a deposit but they are not very fast, usually taking at least a day or two, and tend to have higher fees than most other deposit methods. To deposit using a wire transfer, contact your online casino to get their banking details, then go to your bank and they will set it up for you.
Deposit Safety Concerns
The safety and security of your personal and banking details and your money start with you making good decisions when it comes to making a deposit at an online casino. Here are a few guidelines to follow to make sure you completely safe when making your deposit:
The first step to safely making a deposit is to research the casinos where you are considering playing and making sure they are trustworthy. Reading the coverage and reviews on a web site like this one is the best place to start. Things to look for include if the casino has been serving customers for a long time, quick response time to support issues, few or no customer complaints and if the casino is running on a proven software platform.
The next step is to make sure you are doing everything on your end to protect your details. It doesn’t do any good to go through all the steps to keep safe and then give a thief access to your credit card or banking details at a local level. Protect your account numbers, passwords, credit and debit cards and paper checks from prying eyes.
There are a few things you can do beyond picking the best deposit method for your online casino play to stay safe. I suggest establishing a separate bank account that you only use for online gambling play. If at all possible, set one up that offers a free debit card attached to the account. Also, make sure that your bank sets it up with no overdraft possibilities. In other words, make sure the bank does not honor any request for more money than is in the account. Some banks like to go ahead and pay requests for up to a certain amount over what you have in the account as a “service” to you, and then charge $20 or $30 or more for “helping” you out. They act like they are doing you a favor, but it seems like it is just a way to get extra fees from you. Even more importantly in this situation, you want to make sure that even if the worst happens and your information gets stolen the thieves can’t access more than you have in the account.
Look for a free checking account, but even if you have to pay a few dollars a month the extra layer of safety will be worth it. Once you have your account set up you only put the amount you want to deposit into the account. When you receive a cash out into the account you take it out immediately. You will also want to check for any activity on your gambling bank account at least once every day. This is fairly easy these days because you can usually check your accounts online or even on your phone.
By setting up this account and only using it for your online casino play you have reduced your risk to only the amount you have put into the account. It doesn’t matter what happens on the things that are out of your control involving outside payment processors or casinos, because you have insulated yourself from it.
As far as safety concerns dealing with each of the individual methods listed above, they are all safe and accepted banking methods used all around the world.Most of the methods listed here are used for all kinds of transactions not involving online casinos so as long as you have done your homework and only deal with solid businesses you should be as safe as you can be.
