US Banking Options for Online Poker
The US deposit methods for online gamblers are the most famous ones: Bitcoin, American Express, Visa, and MasterCard. Most online casinos and poker sites accept payments using Visa, MasterCard, and Amex.
The payment methods accepted for the major credit networks include credit, debit, gift cards, and prepaid cards. While real money online gaming sites are less likely to accept credit cards for withdrawals, Visa and MasterCard are available in some locations. Increasingly, more sites accept Bitcoin payments. Blockchain technology makes Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum some of the safest and fastest payment methods.
In this article, I’ll discuss the many payment options and suggest which are suited for your gambling needs. Our subject today is deposits mainly, though I’ll provide information on payouts when some fact is notable. Let’s start with the newest deposit option: Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Deposits
Bitcoin is both a currency and a payment method. As you probably know, Bitcoin is the most famous and popular crypto-currency used for online casino deposits. Depositors who use the virtual currency uses blockchain technology to provide safe, anonymous, and verifiable betting deposits. Anytime a bitcoin transaction is made, the information is added to the blockchain.
Because the code used for an individual transaction is unique, your payment information cannot be stolen over the Internet. Identity thieves simply cannot fake your Bitcoin code. This allows online gaming operators to send payments using Bitcoin faster than otherwise possible. View all Bitcoin poker sites here
To buy bitcoins for use online, you’ll need to go to a bitcoin exchange. This is where you convert US dollars or other traditional currencies into bitcoins. Dozens of bitcoin exchanges exist. Some of the most famous exchanges are Coinbase, BTC-e, Kraken, Bitstamp, Bitfinex, Cryptsy, BTCChina, and Bitcoin Source. This is an essential part to using bitcoin deposits at an online casino, sportsbook, or real money online poker room, but you’ll need to pick a bitcoin wallet before buying bitcoins.
To make bitcoin deposits, you need to choose a bitcoin wallet. This acts like a credit card, bank institution, or web wallet would, holding your currency and moving it to and from the online gambling site. Top bitcoin wallets include Mycelium, Breadwallet, Electrum, Bitcoin Core, Bitcoin Knots, ArcBit, Green Address, Armory, and Bither. Many sites tell players their preferred 3 to 6 bitcoin wallets, which work with their cashier.
Visa Deposits
With the possible exception of China’s UnionPay, Visa is the biggest credit card network in the world. Many online gamblers prefer to make deposits with their Visa credit card. This is because it boosts their purchases and generates a lot of rewards and cashback for their Visa account.
In that way, online bettors can double their rewards, through the online casino promotions and their own credit card rewards program. Online casinos offer welcome bonuses and most have a VIP rewards program. Combined with Visa Rewards, these are two powerful ways to lower the house edge when betting online. View all Visa poker sites here.
Visa depositors have several other options. Visa Debit and Visa Electron are popular payment methods for players who don’t want to expose their credit line to potential identity thieves. The online casinos we review are top-of-the-line sites which use advanced 128-bit encryption and SSL certificates to protect your information.
Still, Visa Debit and Visa Electron are popular payment methods. Visa Buxx is not used as a deposit option much, because many online gambling sites accept payments from players 21 and up. I do want to discuss another type of Visa program, which deserves special attention.
Prepaid Visa Deposits
Visa Prepaid Card is a reloadable debit card. Prepaid cards are safer than credit cards, because of the limited amount of cash on them. They have worldwide functionality, because of their association with Visa. Prepaid cards can be reloaded online, over the phone, or by ATM machine around the globe.
Also, you don’t have to worry about paying a bill at the end of the month or going into debt. People 18 and up are accepted without regard to credit rating, because it’s a prepaid debit card. View all Prepaid credit card sites here.
A lot of prepaid Visa cards exist, associated with one prepaid company or another. Examples include GreenDot Prepaid Visa and MyVanilla Prepaid Visa. You can either go to the Visa website to buy a Prepaid Visa Card or buy one at a retail store like Walmart, Target, CVS, or Walgreens.
MasterCard Deposits
MasterCard is the second-largest credit card network in the United States and beyond. These deposits are accepted at all legitimate online casinos, bookmakers, and poker sites. I’ve noticed that MasterCard is used as a withdrawal method less often than Visa is worldwide, but neither are likely options as withdrawals to US players. Despite that, MasterCard is a favored payment method, because of the similar cashback and incentives offered through MasterCard rewards programs that I described in the Visa section above.
MasterCard has its own debit, prepaid, and gift card programs. MasterCard Maestro is the current debit card program, though you might encounter older brand names like MasterCard Switch or MasterCard Solo in some locations. Those who prefer prepaid cards will find GreenDot Prepaid MasterCard or MyVanilla Prepaid MasterCard, which are sold at major retail outlets across the United States. View all Mastercard poker sites here.
Amex Deposits
American Express is a popular deposit method at many US-friendly online casinos. You won’t find Amex as a deposit method at quite as many online gambling sites, but hundreds upon hundreds of gaming sites do allow American Express. Amex deposits are free, instantaneous, and safe.
American Express is world-famous for having a top-tier rewards program of all the major credit cards, while it handles bigger transactions than many Visa and MasterCard cards. If you are an American high roller who wants rewards for their credit card casino deposits, then you should make American Express deposits.
Players who use the American Express Green Debit Card from MAIB or the American Express Green Debit Card from MAIB receive unlimited cashback and “Pay & Save” cashback, which is not always available with debit cards.
Amex provides insurance and travel rewards with their green and gold debit cards, too. American Express Serve is the company’s reloadable prepaid debit card program. Different cards in Amex Serve include free reloads and 1% cashback, so shop to see which American Express Serve card is suited for your needs.
Explore the implications of poker winnings and taxation on our poker tax page to understand how your payment options might relate to your financial responsibilities.
I don’t have a credit card to deposit to join a poker site. Can I use a Debit Card from my bank
You’ll have to check with the individual site. Sometimes, it depends on if the bank lets it go through. But a poker site will work with you to find the best method.