March 2017 US Offshore Online Poker Payment Processing Report
Most of the U.S. online poker sites improved or remained steady over the past month. There was one notable exception. The Winning Poker Network appears to be having some processing issues. Bitcoin withdrawals slowed to its lowest point since Winning Poker started using it as currency. There are also reports of checks bouncing. This may be related to the annual Super Bowl hangover many sites experience due a high volume of withdrawal requests.
Last month’s grades are in parenthesis. Last month’s full report may be found here.
Ignition Casino A+ (A+)
Ignition Casino is the largest U.S. online poker site. It is the new home for Bovada players on the network formerly known as Bodog, now branded as PaiWangLuo.
Ignition Casino continues to process payments as fast as possible. Bitcoin withdrawals are processed in less than one day. Some arrive in a matter of hours. The maximum Bitcoin withdrawal is $9.500. There is never a fee for Bitcoin transactions at Ignition Casino.
Checks arrive in 4-10 days. The maximum check amount is $2,500. The fee is $65. Players may receive one free check every 120 days.
Intertops A+ (A+)
Intertops is the flagship of the Horizon Poker Network. Intertops has years of consistency when it comes to paying U.S. online poker players.
The fastest way to get a withdrawal from Intertops is by Bitcoin. The maximum withdrawal amount is $2,500. These are processed in a day or two. Checks are available in amounts up to $2,500. These are delivered in about one week with a $50 fee. Bank wires are paid in amounts up to $2,500. The fee is $50 in addition to anything charged by intermediary banks and the receiving one. These are processed in about two weeks.
BetOnline A (A)
BetOnline is the main skin on the Chico Poker Network. It is a top choice in terms of fast cashouts and loose games for U.S. players.
Bitcoin withdrawals are available in amounts up to $5,000. These are processed in a day or two. The fee is two percent of the transaction.
Bank wires are paid in amounts up to $24,900. These are processed in two to four weeks. The fee is about two percent of the transaction plus anything charged by the banks handling the transfer.
Checks are delivered in one to two weeks. The fee is $25 for post office delivery, $35 for courier and $50 for overnight delivery.
BetOnline is one of the few sites that still offer cash transfers. These are paid in a day or two. The maximum amount is $500. The fee is $101 for most cash transfer transactions.
BetOnline permits one free withdrawal per month. The maximum discount is $50. Any fee above $50 receives that amount as a discount. The request must be made on a Friday.
Merge Gaming B- (B-)
The Merge Gaming cashier processes payments for Carbon Poker, Sportsbook.ag and PlayersOnly. Bitcoin withdrawals are processed in three to seven days. The fee is five percent of the transaction. This is more than double the Bitcoin fee at any other U.S. poker site.
Checks and bank wires are delivered in two to four weeks. The fee is three percent of the transaction.
Players may receive one free cashout per year. This includes all withdrawal options.
Winning Poker C+ (A)
The Winning Poker Network saw one of the largest drops we’ve ever reported on for any poker site in our more than five years of writing these reports. The Winning Poker Network has experienced a number of bounced checks and delays in other withdrawal options. The cashier services Americas Cardroom, Black Chip Poker and True Poker.
Bitcoin withdrawals are taking anywhere from 10 to 21 days. This is the longest wait in the U.S. online poker market at this time for Bitcoin cashouts. The maximum withdrawal is $25,000. The fee is two percent.
Checks are available in amounts up to $2,995. These take one to two months to receive. The fee is $65. Players may receive one free check per month.
Winning Poker still offers a debit card. The fee is $40 to receive the card. There is a $4.95 withdrawal fee. It costs $3 to use the card at an ATM. It costs $5 to keep the account open each month. Debit card withdrawals are processed in about one week.
Juicy Stakes C+ (C+)
Juicy Stakes is a member of the Horizon Poker Network. We recommend using Intertops instead if you plan on giving any serious level of action. The withdrawal limits at Juicy Stakes are too low for many players.
The only way for U.S. players to receive a withdrawal from Juicy Stakes is by check. The maximum amount is $1,000. The fee is $50. Active players receive one free check per month. Checks arrive in about one week.
SWC Poker C (C)
SWC Poker is a Bitcoin-only site. It was once known as SealsWithClubs. SWC Poker processes payments in less than 12 hours with no fees. The site suffers from a lack of traffic that is likely attributed to the fact most of its competitors now accept Bitcoin for payments.