If you’re an online poker player from the United States, then depositing money can be quite an adventure. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place, as Poker News Daily will break down the major avenues for deposits at USA Poker Sites and let you know what to look out for. With any luck, you’ll be playing online poker on sites like PokerStars and Full Tilt in no time.
Credit Cards
Credit cards like Visa and MasterCard should be your first option when depositing onto an online poker site. Whether your transaction will be approved is up for debate, but you should start by utilizing a major credit card to deposit. On most sites, only Visa and MasterCard will be accepted, so try to put money on with one of these two brands first and see what happens.
If your transaction doesn’t go through, you’ll either receive an error message saying so or your phone will ring with your bank on the other end asking you to approve the transaction. The success rates have become quite mixed over the years based on your bank’s size and the way it processes gambling payments, so don’t be frustrated if you’re met with failure.
Debit Cards
If your credit cards don’t work, try using your debit card. In this case, your transaction is backed with real money and, depending on what institution you bank with, your chances of success may be greater. Just make sure that your debt card has a Visa or MasterCard logo on it before you try to deposit with it. Note that many online poker sites have a minimum deposit amount, usually $10. Additionally, several sites have a maximum amount you can put on in any one day using a credit card.
You may be met with international transfer fees or cash advance fees, so monitor your credit card statement or bank account balance closely. Finally, poker players have experienced mixed success with prepaid debit cards that you can buy at stores like Wal-Mart, so check out your favorite online poker forum to see what works.
Instant Checks
Several sites offer Instant Checks. In the United States, you’ll need the following information in order to process an Instant Check: your bank’s routing number, the check number, and your account number. All of these can be found across the bottom of a paper check; not coincidentally, sending an Instant Check is exactly like writing a real check.
If you don’t know where to find information like your bank’s routing number, sites like Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars have how to guides with images to make the process easy. Most sites will enforce a deposit limit on Instant Checks until your first one goes through successfully. Then, your limits will be lifted and you can cash in and out using Instant Checks as you please.
Paper Checks and Western Union
Plenty of sites also accept cash transfers from stores like Western Union. You’ll likely get nailed with a processing fee on the retail end and more information on what to do with your money order or wire transfer is available on your chosen online poker site. UB.com, for example, has a postal address in Quebec listed on its website for paper checks and other mailings, while PokerStars promises to e-mail you instructions after you request them from the Cashier. Be sure to check the minimum amounts.
When in Doubt
Nearly every online poker site has a form of cashout customer service, so take advantage of it if you have any questions. DoylesRoom has a toll free 888 number listed on its website, while PokerStars touts its dad@pokerstars.com e-mail support, which is available in English and Spanish. Remember, it’s in a site’s best interest to have you deposit successfully, so utilize the customer support methods you have available to you.
For more information you can read our Full Tilt Poker Review, PokerStars Review, or Cake Poker Review.
What to Watch For
When you deposit online from the United States, remember to watch out for:
1. Fees associated with depositing on your end
2. Fees associated with depositing on the site’s end
3. Deposit minimums and maximums
4. Hold times before funds are available
5. Accessibility of customer support
We’ll see you on the felts!