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Online Poker Deposit Options

There are two tales when it comes to online poker deposits. It becomes harder and harder for Americans, while at the same time it becomes easier for players in virtually every other country. While it may not be simple, it certainly isn’t impossible to deposit into a U.S. online poker room. We have all of the details below. We compare poker deposits methods with the pros and cons of each option.

US Deposit Options

American players are down to just a handful of deposit options at offshore sites. Anyone looking to play at one of these online poker rooms should consider learning about Bitcoin. It has become the premier choice for US players due to its convenience and low fees. There are several other options available. It is up to you to decide the one that is right for you using our guide.

Debit Cards at Poker Sites

The easiest option, where available. At the same time, there are often fees associated with this method.

Debit cards are issued by banks. The card will have either a Visa or Mastercard logo on it. A debit card works identically to a credit card when making an online poker deposit. The player will be asked to enter the debit card number, security PIN, and expiration date. The site will most likely charge a fee between 4% and 7% if the transaction is initiated by an American player. Those located in other countries may not have a fee charged.

Some U.S. debit cards will get declined. Players should consider using a prepaid international debit card. These may be purchased with cash at grocery and drug stores.

Credit Cards at Poker Sites

Credit cards are convenient and widely accepted by poker sites.

All poker sites accept credit cards. Some only accept Visa and Mastercard. Others also permit deposits by American Express and Discover. Sites that accept AMEX and Discover tend to have better processing that allows for a higher acceptance rate.

• Visa Poker Sites
• MasterCard Poker Sites
• American Express Poker Sites

There are three drawbacks to using a credit card for an online poker deposit. One is that there is a fee somewhere in the 4% to 7% range. Another problem is that the issuing bank may treat the deposit as a cash advance. This comes with additional fees that are in addition to the ones charged by the site. Another problem is that banks will often decline these types of transactions. Some U.S. poker sites have better success than others.

Money Transfers

Western Union is a fast way to move cash.

Money transfers are also known as cash transfers. They are processed by Western Union and other such entities. These types of deposits have fallen out of favor with the emergence of Bitcoin. This is due to the high fees involved with cash transfers.

Some sites still accept cash transfers from Western Union and others. These online poker rooms waive the fee on deposits of $250 or more. Deposits may be made by cash at an agent’s office, debit or credit card on the website or phone or using a bank account through the cash transfer’s site. Players must get the receiver’s name and code city before making a deposit. After it is made, contact the site again with the money control number.

Bank Wires

Bank wires are a great way to move large amounts of money.

Bank wires are offered privately by some U.S. online poker rooms. These are reserved for large transfers by VIP players. This option is not found in the cashier menu. Players must contact support to see if the bank wire option is available.

If the U.S. poker site accepts bank wire, you will need its bank account information. This includes the name on the account. The next step is to contact your bank to initiate the transaction. Note that there are fees on both ends of the transaction. Expect to pay at least $100 for this type of transfer. The poker site may waive it if the deposit is large enough. Always ask if that is the case.

Learn more about Poker Sites and Bank Wires»

Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin is the fastest way to deposit any amount of money to a poker site without a fee.

Bitcoin is becoming the most popular deposit method for American online poker rooms. That is because it is free of fees and easy to find. The anonymous nature of Bitcoin allows players to fund it with a bank account transfer. In some instances, credit and debit cards are also available for Bitcoin wallet funding. Bitcoin players will need to create a wallet at a processor that permits gaming transactions.

Learn more about Bitcoin Poker Sites»

Litecoin

LTC is designed for speedy deposits at low fees and fast payouts that are usually free.

Litecoin is an increasingly popular cryptocurrency in online betting. More poker sites are now accepting LTC because of its fast and free transactions. It is used in a very similar way than Bitcoin. Players will need a wallet to fund their online poker accounts, but they will be able to do so safely and anonymously.

Learn more about Litecoin Poker Sites

Other Options

If none of these options work, then some poker rooms may accept a check or money order by mail. Contact the poker room and ask if this is available. It may not be listed anywhere on their website but exceptions are made to players that have exhausted all other options.

Depositing to an online poker room is not as easy as it used to be. It may require some effort or a drive to the local store but it is possible to get back into action. Online poker is alive and well in the U.S.

International Poker Deposit Options

Players outside the United States will find many more online poker deposit options than Americans have available. This includes a multitude of ewallets, as well as electronic checks and localized debit cards. This makes online poker deposit easy for players across Europe, Asia and other parts of the world outside the U.S. Many of these options are also available in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey.

American Express Poker Sites

American Express is a credit card that is convenient but not accepted at most sites.

American Express does not allow its use for online gaming. This policy applies to all countries, even those outside of the U.S. Some poker sites that accept Americans are still able to process American Express cards. BetOnline is an example of such a site. American Express poker deposits are processed as purchases, not cash advances.

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AMEX Deposit Info

• Limits: $50-$2,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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AMEX Payouts Info

• Not available for withdrawals

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Learn more about AMEX Poker Sites»

Bitcoin Poker Sites

Bitcoin is an anonymous currency that is widely used in the online gaming industry.

Bitcoin is more widespread at U.S.-facing poker sites. That is because many gaming commissions have yet to recognize it as a viable currency. Players outside the U.S. that would like to give action at American ones may want to use Bitcoin. There are no fees involved with it. The same cannot be said of some ewallets at these U.S. poker sites.

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Bitcoin Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$25,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: 1-15 minutes

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Bitcoin Payouts Info

• Limits: $50-$25,000
• Estimated Payout Time: 1 Min. – 4 Hours

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Learn more about Bitcoin Poker Sites»

Electronic Checks

Electronic checks may be the simplest, cheapest way to make an online poker deposit.

Electronic checks are often referred to as echecks for short. These are electronic funds transfers. The deposit is taken directly out of a player’s bank account. Depositors will need their routing number and account number to complete an echeck deposit. These are also used for withdrawals.

Electronic checks are available to players in virtually all countries outside of the United States. While offshore sites that continue to accept U.S. players do not process echeck payments, players in the regulated states of Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey may use it as a deposit method at sites licensed by the state.

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Electronic Check Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$2,500
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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Electronic Check Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $50-$3,000
• Estimated Payout Time: 1-2 Days

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Learn more about Poker Sites and eChecks»

Entropay

Entropay is an anonymous prepaid Visa card.

Entropay is a prepaid Visa. It is available to players in countries outside of the U.S. There is a 4.95% fee for loading the card.

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Entropay Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$2,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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Entropay Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $10-$1,000
• Estimated Payout Time: 24 Hours

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Learn more about Entropay»

Mastercard Poker Sites

Mastercard is accepted instantly by most online poker sites.

Mastercard is one of the most popular deposit options in the world. Credit and debit cards may be used, including the U.S. Players in most countries outside the U.S. may also receive withdrawals directly to a Mastercard if it was the original deposit method.

Mastercard is the credit card of choice at U.S. regulated sites. The card often gets declined at offshore sites. The solution is to purchase an international Mastercard. These are available at grocery stores in the gift card section. Websites like Green Dot and Netspend also sell the card.

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MasterCard Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$5,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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MasterCard Payouts Info

• Not available for withdrawals

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Learn more about MasterCard Poker Sites»

MoneyGram Cash Transfers

MoneyGram is an easy way to send cash but the fees can be excessive.

MoneyGram is a cash transfer service. It is mostly used by U.S. online poker players. Cash may be sent from MoneyGram agent locations. The MoneyGram website accepts payments via Mastercard, Visa, and electronic checks. Credit and debit cards are processed in about 10 minutes. Bank transfers are available after three days. Credit cards are processed as cash advances so there must be an available limit or the transaction will be declined. There are also cash advance fees charged ma’s a result of the transaction.

The first to send a MoneyGram poker deposit is finding out the receiver’s name and location. This may sometimes be a business with a code city. Once the deposit is made, the next step is to contact the poker site with it the money transfer number. This is given by the agent or website. The poker site cashier typically has a function to receive this info. Otherwise, contact player support.

MoneyGram is substantially cheaper than Western Union. Poker sites will often cover the fees associated with MoneyGram deposits on amounts of $250 or more. The fee is then deposited into the poker account with the transfer. Make sure to ask the site’s support for its policy before depositing.

MoneyGram is also available as a withdrawal to Americans. The fee is typically about 10% of the transfer.

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MoneyGram Deposit Info

• Limits: $50-$600
• Estimated Deposit Time: 1-6 Hours

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MoneyGram Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $100-$500
• Estimated Payout Time: 1-2 Days

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Neteller Poker Sites

Neteller is the oldest online gaming ewallet.

Neteller is the most popular deposit options in the world. Players may fund a Neteller account with a Visa, Mastercard, or debit cards popular in the country. Bank accounts may also be used to fund a Neteller account.

Credit card deposits have a fee of 2.5%. There is a 3.5% fee for bank transfers. Neteller is not available to U.S. or Canadian players. The exception is regulated sites that serve Nevada and New Jersey.

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Neteller Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$5,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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Neteller Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $10-$4,000
• Estimated Payout Time: Less Than 1 Day

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Learn more about Neteller Poker Sites»

PayPal Poker Sites

Paypal is one of the most popular ewallets in the world. It has a diversified business that includes being the preferred processor for Ebay. Players in regulated countries may use it to deposit and withdraw at online poker rooms.

Paypal accounts may be funded by credit cards and bank transfers. There are no fees. While Paypal allows Americans and Canadians to hold accounts, they may not use it at gaming sites, except in the three U.S. regulated states.

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PayPal Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$5,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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PayPal Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $10-$10,000
• Estimated Payout Time: Less Than 1 Day

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Learn more about PayPal Poker Sites»

Skrill Poker Sites

Skrill deposits may be made by bank transfer, credit card or debit card.

Skrill was once known as Moneybookers. As the company expanded its business beyond gambling, it rebranded. The Skrill account may be funded by Visa, Mastercard, local debit cards and bank transfers. Skrill charges a 1.9% fee for credit and debit card deposits.

Skrill is not available to players in the U.S. or Canada. The exception is regulated sites in Nevada and New Jersey.

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Skrill Deposit Info

• Limits: $5-$5,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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Skrill Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $10-$5,0000
• Estimated Payout Time: Less Than 1 Day

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Learn more about Skrill Poker Sites»

Ukash

Ukash is the best way to deposit cash to an online poker room.

Ukash is a card that may be purchased with cash at retailers or online with a Visa or Mastercard. It costs £9 to buy the card and £2.50 to load it.

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Ukash Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$499
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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Ukash Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $10-$499
• Estimated Payout Time: Less Than 1 Day

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Learn more about Ukash Poker Sites»

Visa Poker Sites

Visa is the most common form of deposit option at poker sites.

Visa is the most popular credit and debit card in the world. All poker sites accept it. It is available to players in all countries.

American players may find their Visa card declined. The solution is to buy an international Visa card. Green Dot and Netspend are prepaid debits cards that are known to work at American poker sites.

Players outside the U.S. may have the option to withdraw winnings to a Visa card if it was used to make a deposit.

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VISA Deposit Info

• Limits: $10-$5,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: Instant

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VISA Withdrawal Info

• Not available for withdrawals

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Learn more about Visa Poker Sites»

Webmoney

Webmoney is the best option for Russian players.

Webmoney is a popular ewallet in Russia. Webmoney accounts may be funded by cash or bank transfer. The fees run between 3% and 10%, depending on the amount.

Learn more about Webmoney Poker Sites»

Western Union

Western Union is a fast way for American players to send cash to poker sites.

Western Union is a cash transfer service. It is a popular choice for U.S. online poker players. Players may deposit in cash at an agent location or over the Internet by credit card or bank account. The fees are less for cash deposits. It costs about 10% of the deposit to send cash, while about 15% for credit cards and bank accounts. Credit cards also incur a cash advance fee from the issuing bank.

The first step is making a Western Union deposit is to get the receiver’s name and location from the poker site. This is usually in the site’s casher section. If it is not, contact the site’s support department. The next step is to fill out the form at the agent’s office or on the Internet. This will include giving your name and contact information. Once the deposit is processed, you will be given a Money Transfer Control Number. The poker site needs this to pick up the money.

Many sites offer the functionality in the cashier to receive the Money Transfer Control Number. If it does not, send it to player support by email or live chat.

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Western Union Deposit Info

• Limits: $50-$500
• Estimated Deposit Time: 1-6 Hours

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Western Union Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $100-$500
• Estimated Payout Time: 1 Day

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Learn more about Western Union Poker Sites»

Wire Transfers

Wire transfers are the best way to move large amounts of money.

A wire transfer involves sending cash from one bank account to another. The fee to send a bank wire is about $25. The poker site may cover the fee on deposits of $300 or more.

The first step to initiating a wire transfer is to get the receiving bank’s routing and account number from the poker site. You then go to your bank and give them this banking information.

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Wire Transfer Deposit Info

• Limits: $500-$25,000
• Estimated Deposit Time: 1-4 Days

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Wire Transfer Withdrawal Info

• Limits: $2,000-$25,000
• Estimated Payout Time: 5-7 Days

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Learn more about Wire Transfers & Poker Sites»

Closed Payment Processors

Some payment processors were unable to stay in business for the long haul. Many were involved in unregulated markets. This left the payment processor vulnerable to fraud or legal action. Some simply found business conditions impossible to operate.

Most U.S. payment processors that closed failed to pay players. This is not the case for most ewallets that serviced players in other parts of the world.

PrepaidATM

Firepay

EchecksUS

Epassporte

EwalletXpress

Pic-Club

Quicktender/UseMyWallet

Click2Pay