23 MarOnline Poker Deposits

Since you are playing poker online, you need to fund your account online as well. The best online poker sites offer a number of deposit options for real money poker players. However, players from the United States have fewer options when compared to non-US players. This is due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The UIGEA prohibits financial institutions in America from funding gambling related transactions as a result of which Americans have fewer banking options at online poker sites.

The main online poker deposit options offered by poker sites include debit and credit cards, e-Wallets, e-checks, prepaid cards and bank wires.

Debit and Credit Cards

The easiest way to deposit money into your online poker account is by credit card or debit card. The poker site will ask you for the name, card number, security number and the expiry date on the card when you attempt to deposit. Many poker sites have a daily limit for minimum and maximum deposit which you must make note of. The process is quick and your deposit will show up in your online poker account instantly. Also, there are no fees t be paid for this service. These are some of the main reasons why this deposit method is so popular.  For American poker players though, credit/debit card deposits may not be an option. VISA, MasterCard, Amex and Diners Club are some of the popular poker credit cards.

E-Wallets

E-Wallets or electronic wallets hold money in an online account and allow you to transfer money to your online poker account. The e-Wallet account can be funded via your bank account. In short, you can move money from your bank account to the poker sites and vice versa. If you are using an e-Wallet, you need to give the poker site the name and e-Wallet number.

One disadvantage of using an e-Wallet is that you are charged a service fee. Also, the transfers are not instant as the transfer process may take some time. But, it seems to be the ideal deposit method for American poker players. Some of the popular e-Wallets in the online poker industry include Neteller, MoneyBookers, Click2Pay, e-WalletXpress, etc.

eChecks

eChecks or electronic checks are another common method of deposit favored by online poker players. They allow you to transfer money from your bank to the online poker site in an instant. No fees are charged for an eCheck poker deposit, so that’s another advantage. The poker site requires details such as the name of the account holder, account number, routing number and the account type whether checking or savings. Again, the poker site may have a minimum and maximum deposit limit for eChecks. The limit can be raised by talking to the customer support at the poker site.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are another convenient option for online poker players to deposit money into their account. The player can purchase prepaid cards at land based kiosks and convenience stores. They can use the unique PIN number to fund the poker account. The biggest advantage of using a prepaid card is that you don’t expose your bank details to the poker site. The transaction is also instant once you have the card in hand and there are no fees to be paid. Prepaid cards can be used by non-US poker players. PaySafeCard is the most popular prepaid card being used by poker players.

Bank Wire

Poker players wanting to make large deposits at online poker sites prefer to use bank wires. First, check out if the poker site does indeed accept a bank wire. If they do, get the wiring instructions from them and take these to your bank. The bank then makes arrangements to transfer money to your online poker account. Processing of the bank wire takes a minimum of one business day. Bank wires are a good option for players who cannot use any other deposit method or who want to make huge, five figure deposits into their online poker account.

Some online poker sites award a bonus for using a particular deposit method and you can find out the details by visiting the Cashier Page on the website.