How to Withdraw from U.S. Online Poker Rooms
U.S. online poker withdrawals are a hot topic right now. Some U.S. friendly online poker rooms do a great job of cashing players out quickly, while there are others that do not have the payment processing capacity needed to grow their operations and keep players happy.
There are no ewallets that process online poker payments for U.S. players so this has forced online poker rooms to handle all of the processing themselves. Some poker rooms are more resourceful than others.
- Large player traffic
- Above average quality of games
- Social, recreational player focused
- Third largest U.S. facing poker room with growing traffic.
- Excellent and consistent payment processing.
- Relatively juicy games.
Players may receive cashouts in one of several ways. The easiest cashout option is through a debit card that is issued by an online poker room. Winning Poker Network skins offer this option. The card arrives in 2-3 weeks and only costs $25. Once the card is received, cashouts may be received in just a few days. The fees include $4.95 for each cashout request and $3 for every withdrawal at an ATM.
The highlight of this option is that there is no interaction required with a bank employee that may create additional and unnecessary hassle. A player simply swipes their debit card at an ATM and requests cash much like any other transaction.
Players outside of the Winning Poker Network must choose from other methods. These include Western Union, MoneyGram, bank wire and checks.
Cash Transfer Advice
Players that choose to withdraw by MoneyGram may think that their transaction will be simple, but there are still some issues that should be considered. These cash transfer companies have a set limit for receivers before they are flagged by the system. Big winners should avoid excessive withdrawals through these options as it may create additional scrutiny.
Another issue is the $1,000 cash limit set by some cash transfer affiliates. Grocery stores and discount retailers will often be unable to process or outright refuse cash withdrawals in excess of $1,000. Players should consider this before receiving their winnings at one of these locations.
A cash transfer affiliate operated by a check cashing company is likely to offer free money orders for transactions over $1,000. Everybody has bills and the best course of action is to show up with a use for these money orders.
Money orders may be used for any bill that can be paid by check. These include rent, mortgages, car payments, insurance, and utilities. Players should check their mail and bring all payment stubs to the cash transfer agent. Some of these locations will accept immediate bill payments for local companies, including utilities and taxes.
One other option is to receive cash transfers directly to a debit card. This has an additional fee, but also helps avoid having to deal with employees face to face that may question the transaction.
Checks
The most popular way to cashout from a U.S. online poker room is by check. Every U.S. online poker room that we have reviewed offers a check as a withdrawal option. The checks arrive by courier, most often FedEx.
Carbon Poker charges 3% of the amount for check withdrawals, which arrive in 2-3 weeks. The Winning Poker Network pair True Poker and Americas Cardroom offer one free check withdrawal per month. They charge $65 for additional checks that arrive in about a week.
As you see, you get what you pay for in terms of check withdrawal services. The maximum check withdrawal amount is typically $2500-$3000.
Players that have requested checks will need to exercise caution when making a deposit. In most cases, an online poker check cannot be immediately cashed unless those funds are present in a player’s account. Even then, there still may be some questions by your bank teller.
Never mention that the check came from an online poker room. This is even true if the check came from a regulated online poker room, such as WSOP.com. Know Your Customer laws and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act require bank tellers to be inquisitive.
One way to avoid this issue is to deposit checks through an ATM machine or mobile device. This prevents a face to face issue with a bank employee. Unfortunately, some online poker checks will be processed from countries outside North America. Many of these checks will not scan but it is still worth a shot. This should be tried before presenting a check in person.
It is important to know what to say and what not to say when depositing your winnings. While you should not be evasive, some questions asked by the bank are irrelevant. If the bank asks how you received the check the best response is that you manage an online business.
- Large player traffic
- Above average quality of games
- Social, recreational player focused
- Third largest U.S. facing poker room with growing traffic.
- Excellent and consistent payment processing.
- Relatively juicy games.
Western Union and MoneyGram
Cash transfers were once a popular U.S. withdrawal option. Bitcoin slowly replaced it as an option. One reason is the fees tend to be about 20% of the withdrawal. Players must receive their cash transfer in the same city that they use in their player profile at the poker room. These payments are processed in 3 days or less in most cases.
Western Union and MoneyGram started cracking down on its use in countries known for online gaming. That makes the option difficult to find these days.
Bank Wire
Bank wires may be the most hassle free option, but it can also be very expensive. Online poker rooms will often charge a fee for the transaction. A player’s bank will also charge a fee to receive the wire. If the wire uses an intermediary bank then there could be another charge.
Each bank that handles the transaction will take a cut of the transfer. It is often unknown how many banks may handle the transaction before it arrives in the player’s bank account. This can get expensive fast.
Large transactions are often processed via bank wire at Winning Poker and Ignition Casino. The fees may be as high as $50 and take 1-2 weeks to arrive in a player’s bank account. U.S. banks may also charge a small fee to receive a bank wire, typically in the range of $10.
Debit Card
The Winning Poker Network, including True Poker and Americas Cardroom, offers a unique cashout solution. They will mail players a debit card that can be used like an ATM card. There are small fees associated with this withdrawal method but it is much cheaper than receiving a cash transfer and often times are faster.
Players make a request to have a withdrawal added to this debit card and within a day or two the funds are available. There is no hassle with having to deposit a check or go to a store to pick up money. The winning player may go to virtually all ATM machines in the U.S. to pick up their money.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is offered for withdrawal from SWCPoker, Intertops, Poker Host, Ignition, BetOnline and the Winning Poker Network. These sites all process Bitcoin in about 1-3 days. The funds then must be converted into U.S. dollars to withdraw to a bank.
Contrary to popular belief, it is still possible to receive your online poker winnings when you are ready to make a cashout request. While U.S. players do not enjoy instant cashouts like players in many other countries, the speed is still reasonable at many poker rooms.
Receiving online poker winnings can be a dicey affair. Understand your rights and what should be said to help speed the process, whether you are at a bank or cash transfer agent. The more you know, the less likely your transaction is to be denied.