Once you’ve made the decision to sign up to a casino site your next step is to complete the registration, load funds onto your account (collect your welcome bonus!) and start playing.
Sounds easy doesn’t it? Well in most instances it is, but for some players there are barriers which prevent them using certain casino depositing options. This article will outline the options available and assist you in making the choice that best suits you.
For most it will be a matter of convenience, but for some, like those playing in the US, it will be governed by laws of your country. Why is this? Well in the instance of the US, legislation was passed in 2006 which prohibits financial institutions from transferring funds to online gaming sites. Obviously such legislation has made it increasingly difficult for the US player to transfer to and from gambling sites, but the good news is that there are still options available.
Worth noting is some casinos will only allow you to withdraw via the same method used for depositing. A number of sites offer an extra bonus for depositing via certain options, so it’s worth taking a look at the website before you sign up. Once you have decided which option suits you all that’s left is to load up the casino and start trying your luck.
Credit Cards:
Credit cards need no explanation and most of you will have at least one, so it will come as no surprise to know that they are still the most widely used option for depositing at online casinos. The main benefits to the player are convenience and speed of transaction, as credit cards have the fastest processing time.
Unfortunately, due in large part to the UIGEA, there are some occasional difficulties with credit card deposits. Some banks won’t process transactions to gaming sites and as such will not allow you to use your credit card to do so. That said many sites still accept all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard and Diners Club International, especially those on the RTG network who are more than happy to accomodate credit card deposits.
If you’re experience difficulty depositing with your credit card don’t be afraid to contact the support staff from the site, who should be able to assist you in depositing at the casino using your credit card.
E-wallets:
E-wallets as the name suggests, are online wallets which allow you to load deposit funds in order to complete online transactions. They are becoming increasingly popular and offer a solution to those experiencing difficulty depositing using credit cards.
There are a number of e-wallets to choose from, most of which work in the same way. To start using an e-wallet you must first sign up with the e-wallet site and create an account. The details required are fairly standard and consist of the usual banking details and personal information, all of which are needed to ensure security on the account. Once the account has been set up you can load funds to the e-wallet using your credit card and from there deposit to your casino account.
Many people, including all the team here at casinosite.net, use this method of payment. Why is this? Well if like us and use the internet to complete other financial transactions it can be a handy way to keep track of your online activity. Coupled with this is the ease in which you can transfer funds to online accounts and to your bank account as well as the security of only using one central account. Many also prefer it as transactions to online gaming sites will not show on your credit card, so that all your gambling transactions are completely anonymous.
Some of the main E-wallets providers are eWalletXpress, PaySafeCard, Moneybookers, Neteller and Click2Pay
eChecks:
eChecks are the online equivalent of paper checks, the main differences being the lack of paper and the speed of the transaction. As with standard checks, eChecks are cleared through an automated clearing house, but unlike paper checks they clear immediately. The major benefit of this is that you can lodge funds and start playing straight away.
You send eChecks directly from most bank accounts and most of the eWallets also offer this as a service. If you can, we suggest sending them from your bank account if you don’t already have a eWallet as it will negate the need to do set up an account with one.
Money Transfer:
Money transfers are similar to bank wires except you use money transfer agents instead of your bank account to transfer money. The process is relatively simple and in a lot of cases you can just walk into your local agent and hand over funds, complete a simple form and they will provide you with a transaction reference. Once you have this, you just contact the customer support at the casino site and provide them with the details. They will credit the funds to your account within 10 minutes in most cases.
There are a large number of companies who offer this service with the two largest being Western Union and MoneyGram. Which one is for you? Well that depends on a number of factors. Western Union is the largest and best known of the companies offering this service and as you’d expect from the largest provider they have the most locations. On the other hand MoneyGram charge less in fees than their main rival and if you are only transferring a small amount the charges with Western Union can amount to a high proportion of this figure.
Prepaid Cards:
Prepaid cards are almost exactly the same as credit cards except with one major difference, funds are loaded onto them before using and they will allow you to use only the money you have on the card. The main benefit of the prepaid cards is that they allow you to pay cash to complete transaction on the internet rather than credit. Some providers such as Ukash won’t even charge a fee on the customer’s side for this service with the exact cash amount you deposit being credited to the casino. This negates the added expense of paying the fees associated with some credit cards.
There is a wide range of prepaid card providers. Depending on where you are, your depositing options may be limited. However, no matter what region you live in, there will always be choices. Some of the larger credit card providers such as Visa and MasterCard also provide these prepaid cards, albeit with some associated fees.
Bank Wires:
Bank wires are used to transfer funds between your bank and a third party or vice versa; in this instance the casino. Whilst they provide a secure and reliable transfer, the biggest drawback is the time, with the average transaction taking 3 to 4 working days. In some cases it can be quicker, but in others it can take longer; it’s really down to the banks. Another downside is that bank wire charges are amongst the highest when it comes to depositing fees.
To send a bank wire just contact your bank and provide them with the banking details for the site you wish to deposit at. They will then send the wire to the casino’s bank and once the funds are released, you can start playing at the site.