The Chip Race Talk About The Irish Open
When JP McCann and Paul O’Reilly took over the Irish Open, they were not inheriting a booming juggernaut. They were
Online poker players outside the US often run into payment problems. Cards get declined, banks block transactions, or withdrawals take longer than expected. This page breaks down the international online poker payment options that actually work, with clear guidance based on region and banking access.
Online poker payments are often unreliable outside the US because many banks block transactions to offshore poker sites, which limits available international online poker payment options for international players.
Most international players use a mix of methods, such as e-wallets, cryptocurrency, and bank transfers, to balance speed, fees, and reliability. The best choice depends on your location, how fast you need access to funds, and how much verification you’re willing to deal with. For example, players in Europe often rely on e-wallets, while players in regions with strict bank blocks may turn to cryptocurrency.
The table below shows how common poker payment methods compare based on speed, fees, privacy, and where they work best.
| Payment Method | Best For | Geographic Availability | Typical Fees | Privacy Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skrill | EU players needing fast withdrawals | Europe, Asia, Americas | 1% to 2.9% (Bank withdrawals ~2.8%) | Reduced bank involvement |
| NETELLER | Players wanting VIP benefits | Europe, Asia-Pacific | 1.5-4% | Reduced bank involvement |
| AstroPay | Latin American players | Latin America, Asia | 2-3% | Limited data sharing |
| Visa/Mastercard | Backup option for most regions | Global | 2-5% | Bank involvement |
| Bitcoin/Cryptocurrency | Privacy-focused players | Global | <1% (Avg. $0.50-$1.50 network fee) | Higher privacy than cards |
| Bank Wire Transfer | Large transactions | Global | $25-50 | Full bank details |
| Luxon Pay | Players wanting crypto-like privacy | Europe, Asia | 1-3% | Reduced bank involvement |
| Regional options | Local payment solutions | Specific regions | Varies | Regional regulations |
E-wallets are often the best option for players who can’t use their bank directly. They sit between your bank and the poker site, which makes deposits and withdrawals more likely to go through on international sites.
Skrill is one of the most accepted e-wallets for international online poker. Many poker sites allow both deposits and withdrawals through Skrill, which makes it a reliable option for regular play. Skrill also supports player-to-player transfers, so you can move poker funds between sites without sending them back to your bank. To use Skrill for poker, create and verify an account, link a funding source, choose your account currency, and deposit directly on the poker site.
NETELLER works much like Skrill and is accepted on many of the same poker sites. It is popular in parts of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. One benefit of NETELLER is the Net+ prepaid card.
In some countries, this card lets you withdraw cash from ATMs or spend your funds directly. NETELLER is a good option for players who want an e-wallet with the added choice of a prepaid card.
AstroPay is often used in Latin America and parts of Asia where other e-wallets do not always work. It uses prepaid vouchers instead of a regular wallet balance. The downside is that many poker sites only allow AstroPay for deposits, not withdrawals, so players usually need another method to cash out.
Some poker sites support newer or region-specific e-wallets. One example is Luxon Pay, which can offer faster payments and more privacy on certain sites. These options are helpful when major e-wallets are not available or when you need a backup if your main method does not work.
Traditional banking still matters for international poker, mainly as a backup. Cards and bank transfers are often used to fund e-wallets or handle larger transactions when other methods aren’t available.
Visa and Mastercard remain the most convenient entry points, though success rates are highly dependent on your specific issuing bank.
Bank wire transfers are slow, but they often work when other payment methods fail. They are best for large deposits or withdrawals when getting paid matters more than speed.
In some regions, local bank transfers are faster and cheaper. For example, many European players can use SEPA transfers, and players in the UK may use Faster Payments. What’s available depends on your country and the poker site.
Cryptocurrency has become a reliable payment option for many international poker players because it isn’t tied to local banking systems.
Bitcoin is still the most common payment option for non-US poker sites in 2026 because it works across countries and processes quickly. While some sites also accept Ethereum and Litecoin, Bitcoin is usually the easiest way to move larger poker balances between sites without using a bank.
Cryptocurrency prices can change quickly. To lower risk, many players deposit just before they play and withdraw soon after. Keeping only your poker funds in crypto helps limit losses. Some poker sites also support stablecoins, which avoid this problem.
Stablecoins like USDT and USDC are linked to regular currencies, so their value stays steady. They work across borders like other cryptocurrencies but without big price changes. For players who want stable balances, stablecoins are often the easiest way to use crypto for poker.
Many players use crypto as a bridge instead of their only payment method. Crypto can be used to fund e-wallets, prepaid cards, or poker accounts, then changed back to local currency when needed.
This approach gives players more options when banks or cards do not work.
Payment problems happen more often for players outside the US, but most issues have simple fixes. Knowing what usually causes a problem makes it easier to decide when to wait and when to take action.
Deposit failures are typically the result of bank-level blocks rather than site issues. To resolve a decline immediately, try the following:
Withdrawal times depend on the payment method you’re using. Some delays are normal, especially with bank transfers or first-time withdrawals.
Before contacting support:
If a withdrawal is stuck well past the expected timeframe, reaching out to the poker site’s support team is the next step.
Most non-US poker players need more than one payment option. The right choice depends on how often you play, how fast you want access to your funds, and how often banks block your transactions. The table below summarizes the most practical options based on common player needs.
| If you want to... | Best option |
|---|---|
| Deposit and withdraw quickly | Skrill or NETELLER |
| Avoid bank blocks | Cryptocurrency |
| Play in Latin America | AstroPay for deposits + another withdrawal method |
| Move funds between poker sites | Skrill |
| Handle large transactions | Bank wire transfer |
| Keep a backup option | Visa or Mastercard |
| Reduce bank involvement | Cryptocurrency or select e-wallets |
The most successful international players don’t rely on a single method. Instead, they combine international online poker payment options such as a primary e-wallet for fast access, a cryptocurrency wallet for backup, and a secondary card for emergencies. Using more than one option helps prevent delays when banks block transactions or regional restrictions change.
As payment tools change and new options appear, staying flexible makes it easier to keep playing without interruption. Once your funds are in place, the focus stays where it belongs: on the game itself.
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