December 2015 U.S. Offshore Online Poker Payment Processing Report
The U.S. offshore online poker industry improved over the past month in terms of payouts. This includes Merge Gaming, which suffered slow payouts for most of 2015. Checks processed by Merge Gaming arrive nearly twice as fast as they did last month.
The November 2015 report may be found here. Last month’s grades are in parenthesis.
Winning Poker Network A+ (A)
The Winning Poker Network’s cashier services Americas Cardroom, Black Chip Poker and True Poker. The poker network has ties to one of the strongest online sports betting businesses in the world. This reputation carries over into Winning Poker.
Players receive a Bitcoin withdrawal in about one day. The maximum amount is $5,000. One free Bitcoin withdrawal is permitted each month.
Debit card withdrawals arrive in about two days. The card costs $40 to request. There is a $4.95 fee each month and for every withdrawal. There is a $3 fee for an ATM use, in addition to the ones charged by the machine’s owner. The maximum debit card withdrawal is $2,500, which may be requested one time per week.
Checks continue to arrive in about two weeks. Players may receive one withdrawal by check for free each month. The maximum amount is $2,995. The fee for additional checks, which are sent by express courier, is $65.
There are few reports about cash transfers. This is because of the better options available in terms of fees. The speeds appear to remain unchanged at about two days. The fees and amounts are:
- $100 – $299: $60 fee
- $300 – $499: $70 fee
- $500 – $749: $85 fee
- $750 – $999: $95 fee
- $1,000 – $1,500: $110 fee
Intertops/Juicy Stakes A (A)
Intertops and its sister site Juicy Stakes continue its consistent payout speeds. They are members of the Revolution Gaming Network. Intertops and Juicy Stakes only share lower limit gamed with the rest of the platform.
Intertops/Juicy Stakes offer checks in amounts up to $3,000. These arrive in about one week. That is the fastest of all surveyed sites. Bank wires arrive in one or two weeks in amounts up to $2,500. Both have a $50 fee. Cash transfers arrive in a day or two with the following fees:
- $100 – $500: $70 fee
- $501 – $1,000: $85 fee
- $1,001 – $2,000: $180 fee
Players may receive one free cashout per month. Free check withdrawals require $40 in rake to be paid. A player that rakes $50 may receive a small cash transfer. A $100 raker can receive a large one. All of the rake amounts reflect a monthly total.
Intertops currently accepts Bitcoin deposits. Withdrawals are not yet available. Professional Rakeback reports that Bitcoin withdrawals will be in the cashier next month.
BetOnline A (A-)
BetOnline continues to prove that it is a contender in the U.S. online poker market. It is the flagship of the Chico Poker Network.
The fastest way to get paid by BetOnline is by Bitcoin. These are processed in less than one day. The fee is two percent. The cap is $5,000 every 48 hours.
Checks are available in amounts up to $2,500. The fee is $25. Checks arrive in about one week. Cash transfers are paid in amounts up to $890.
The fees are $75 or lower, depending on the withdrawal. These are processed in one or two days.
Players can receive one free withdrawal each month. It must be requested in Friday. The maximum discount is $50.
Bovada A- (A-)
Bovada continues to offer fast withdrawals. They just aren’t as fast or convenient as its competitors. The lack of Bitcoin as a withdrawal option also puts it a small step below other sites.
Checks arrive in one or two weeks in amounts up to $3,000. The fee is $50.
Bank wires are paid in amounts up to $9,500, also with a $50 fee charged by Bovada. There are additional fees from the intermediary and receiving banks. There may also be a currency conversion fee.
Visa Fast Funds works like an electronic check. There is also a $50 fee for this service. The maximum cashout through Visa Fast Funds is $2,500.
Players may receive one of the above cashout options for free each month.
Bovada also offers cash transfers. These arrive in one or two days. Players may choose between Western Union and MoneyGram. The amounts and fees are:
Western Union
- $100 – $249 Fee: $50
- $250 – $499 Fee: $75
- $500 – $999 Fee: $100
- $1000 – $1499 Fee: $150
- $1500 – $2000 Fee: $200
MoneyGram
- $100 – $199 Fee: $20
- $200 – $399 Fee: $30
SWC Poker B- (B-)
SWC Poker is the new version of SealsWithClubs. It is a Bitcoin-only site. The site offers unusual games, however, its cash game traffic is very small. Players receive a Bitcoin withdrawal in 12 hours or less. It is the only deposit and cashout option available. Players must then move the money from a Bitcoin wallet to another method to convert it to cash.
Merge Gaming C+ (C-)
Merge Gaming’s cashier services Carbon Poker, Sportsbook.ag and SuperBook. It wins the most improved award this month. Withdrawal speeds by bank wire and checks improved to about six weeks over the past month. That is up from 10-12 weeks in November. Players pay a 3% fee on withdrawals. This is waived once per year. The maximum withdrawal is $2,500.
Full Flush Poker D (D+)
Full Flush Poker, the flagship of the Equity Poker Network, continues to struggle. Players currently wait 3-6 months for ewallet withdrawals. Bank wires and checks take 3-4 months.
Cash transfers are the fastest option. That takes 6-10 weeks. The maximum was lowered from $690 to $400 this month. The fee is at least $40 for U.S.-friendly withdrawal options.