At casino-guide.biz, we compile and create lists that consist of expert recommendations of the best online gambling sites. These lists are organized by a variety of different reader priorities and serve as a convenient guide for those looking to bet on the NCAA, secure a generous welcome bonus, and/or enjoy the thrill of live dealer table games.
We can provide a list of ranked recommendations for almost any game-related activity, sport, league, event and website quality you can think of. One criterion that often plays a prominent role in a new customer's decision to join a bookmaker is the ability to fund an account via preferred banking methods.
Although all of our recommendations - regardless of standard - go through a vetting process to ensure flexible banking and fast deposit/withdrawal times, gaming sites that specialize in certain transactions tend to have the best processing times and the fewest complaints on the payment method front.
This page serves as a hub, linking you to the best gambling sites that specifically cater to each of the following banking methods.
Gambling Site Deposit Option Pages:
| Abaqoos | American Express | Astropay | Baloto |
| Bancontact | Bank Transfer | Bitcoin | Bitcoin Cash |
| Boku | Boleto | CartaSi | Click2Pay |
| ClickandBuy | Comepay | Credit Card | Cubits |
| Dash | DineroMail | Diners Club | Dogecoin |
| DotPay | eCheck | ecoCard | ecoPayz |
| Ekonto | Entercash | EntroPay | Ethereum |
| Euteller | Flexepin | Giropay | IDeal |
| iDebit | Inpay | InstaDebit | Interac |
| JCB | Klarna | LiqPay | Litecoin |
| Lobanet | Maestro | Mastercard | Moneta |
| MultiBanco | Neosurf | Neteller | Nordea |
| OKPay | Pay By Phone | Pay For It | Payeer |
| PayLevo | PayPal | Payr | Paysafecard |
| Poli | Postepay | Przelewy24 | QIWI |
| Ripple | SafetyPay | Siru Mobile | Skrill |
| SoFort | SporoPay | ToditoCash | Trustly |
| TrustPay | Ukash | UnionPay | UPayCard |
| UseMyFunds | Visa | WebMoney | Wirecard |
| Yandex Money | Zcash | Zimpler |
The Top US Deposit Options for Online Gambling Sites
In the U.S., the most common way to make a purchase is to use a credit card linked to a checking account. However, this deposit method is no longer available at any U.S. gambling site. Blocking this simple and straightforward banking method is the result of a 2006 federal law called the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Prohibition Act". Many users are affected by this legislation.
Summary of the UIGEA
- Prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection bets or wages that involve the use of the Internet.
- The designated payment systems are:
1. Automated Clearing House (ACH) Systems
2. Card Systems
3. Check Collection Systems.
4. Money Transmitting Businesses
5. Wire Transfer Systems - Requires Treasury and Federal Reserve Board to develop regulations that require participants in payment systems to develop policies and procedures to identify and block Internet gambling transactions.
- Requires certain participants in the designated payment systems to establish policies and procedures that are designed to identify and block, prevent or prohibit restricted transactions.
- Provides non-exclusive examples of acceptable policies and procedures that provide a safe-harbor for non-exempt participants in the designated payment systems.
- Non-exempt participants are those that establish or maintain accounts for commercial customers and are in a posistion to conduct due diligence on the customer.
This law doesn't stop people from going online to gamble, but it does protect U.S. banks and other financial institutions from being forced to process payments between their customers and online gambling companies by making them subject to laws that are illegal in the United States. PayPal has also accepted these rules and now redirects US gamblers to other deposit methods that are just as reliable and not subject to any kind of online gambling laws.
Credit Cards
The credit card is one of the most popular methods of depositing money at betting sites. While banks obediently follow the UIGEA, credit card companies -- for the most part -- have taken a different approach.
According to a 2015 Forbes.com article, "Most U.S. credit card companies today are willing to finance just about any form of online gambling..." The catch? The contest provider must first obtain a letter from an attorney stating that the game is not illegal.
Visa and Mastercard are the two most popular and widely accepted credit cards by online bookmakers. You will almost always find them available as a deposit method at gambling sites. Other varieties - such as American Express - are also accepted, but less frequently.
Cryptocurrencies
The online gaming industry and cryptocurrency are a match made in heaven. The reason: The blockchain is not controlled by a central company, allowing users to transfer the various coins at will and without interference. Not only that, but deposits are settled instantly. For the wild world of cryptocurrency, that's another huge plus.
Setting up a cryptocurrency account has its drawbacks, the most well-known being bitcoin, bitcoin cash, litecoin, and ethereum. First and foremost, there's the necessary creation of a wallet. This is where the virtual coins are stored.
The wallet operators will let you exchange your real money for a bunch of different crypto coins, but first you have to be approved by them, which means you have to send them some ID and details about your bank. Sometimes this whole process can take a few days.
Neteller
Neteller is a payment processing service that effectively acts as a middleman between you and the online gaming operators. This popular deposit method for US gambling site customers accepts Visa and MasterCard payments from customers and then allows the account holder to transfer the funds to their online betting account in a way that bypasses the normal banking channels, providing US gamblers with a legal way around the UIGEA.
Neteller has one drawback, and that is that casinos often impose either weekly or monthly deposit limits on this specific type of transaction. Add to that the fact that the whole end-to-end process from bank to casino account seems to take an average of 2-3 days (which is slightly slower than credit cards and crypto), and using Neteller looks even less favorable.
However, for gamblers who don't have a credit card or aren't particularly familiar with cryptocurrency wallets, trading, and all the other bells and whistles of this new financial market, Neteller offers a nice alternative: a legal, safe, and secure way to feed your gambling habit.
Pre-Paid Debit Cards
A variety of prepaid cards are available as deposit methods for online gambling. Customers pay in advance using either a physical card or its online counterpart. They load the card with an amount of their choice and then use it to make transactions at gambling sites.
These prepayment options are often underwritten and processed by Visa, Mastercard and other major credit institutions. However, they do not require the user to have a standard checking account or any type of credit. The only requirement is that the user has cash to load onto the card. After that, the card and its online counterpart can be used for online gambling without anyone knowing the true identity of the person placing the bets.
Benefits of Different Payment Types
You have no doubt noticed from the table at the top of this guide that punters can choose from many dozens of different banking methods and deposit types to fund an online gambling account.
While some transactions will necessarily be replaced by others as a result of federal decisions, the choice of one gambling site payment method over another is usually an individual one. Bettors have a number of very personal reasons for choosing
If you don't have a high enough credit score to get an Amex card, it doesn't matter that transactions are lightning fast and ultra-secure. You might as well not be an Amexer, because you can't enter that world. So what do you do? You open a crypto wallet or buy a prepaid card.
Whichever gambling site deposit method you ultimately choose, they all have unique benefits and/or setbacks.
Bank Transfer
Although it is currently against the law in the United States to send direct bank transfers, such as wire transfers and e-checks, to gambling sites, they are likely to become available very soon. The main reason for this is the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the federal ban on sports betting. These methods are great because you can transfer the money directly from your bank to your betting account. You can also pay by phone, visit a cashier in person, or pay online; whatever works best for you.
Credit Card
Currently, most online gambling sites prefer to accept credit cards for betting. The credit card is a secure method, it is instantly available at the gambling site, and if you win, chances are your payout will be sent to your card. This also means that we are sure to have a debit/credit card withdrawal option at a site that accepts these cards for deposits.
Cryptocurrency
Crypto is an alternative method of funding a betting site. Using Bitcoin or Ethereum are two options of currency that can be deposited instantly, allowing the player to start betting immediately. Opening a wallet is the first step, and then you are free to use your funds without bank or government oversight.
E-Wallets
Another convenient way to fund your account without running afoul of U.S. federal law is through e-wallets. These third-party payment processors accept funds directly from your bank account and handle the next transfer. They send the funds to the sportsbook, allowing you to skirt the UIGEA rules (more on that in a moment). E-wallets also exit with style and grace; you can cash out any way you like, and your e-wallet is a perfectly legal placeholder for your winnings.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Deposit Method
Most online betting enthusiasts choose a deposit method based primarily on what they have and what is most readily available to them. However, you may be different. You may have a number of specific factors that you consider when choosing a funding method. And if that's the case, here are some of the most important things to consider when deciding which banking method to use.
Transaction Speed
Our society is one that demands immediate results, so it follows that the first quality most users look for when opening an account is fast transactions. When you are in such an instant gratification mode, it just makes sense to choose a platform where instant transfers are a standard offering - at least for some banking methods.
Are Withdrawals Available?
Depending on how you deposit money, you may or may not be able to withdraw it to the same card or account. The most glaring example is credit cards, which allow you to make instant or instantaneous deposits, but cannot be used as a withdrawable account because they are not a traditional account; they are a payment method. You pay a bill with a credit card; you don't put money on it. And when you want to take money out, you can only do that with another type of account. If you put a bunch of money in your credit account and then try to take it out, it doesn't work.
Transfer Fees
Choosing certain credit cards, e-wallets, and payment processors may mean paying transaction fees. These will vary depending on the deposit method you choose, so it's a good idea to look into any independent, monthly, or payment-based fees that could eat into your bankroll before you even start betting.
Security
When it comes to online financial transactions, security is paramount. Credit cards are generally the safest method of payment because they allow you to reverse a charge if you accidentally send money to a scammer posing as an online gaming site or if your account is hacked. Cryptocurrencies are also pretty safe and straightforward, largely because of the blockchain. But if you send coins to a scammer, you cannot get them back.
Legality
The Guide has explained several times that U.S. federal law prohibits the use of debit cards linked to checking accounts as a deposit method. This leaves American players at a dead end when it comes to finding a convenient alternative. Processors like Neteller and Paysafecard are heavily used because PayPal is not.
Consumer Protections
In some financial exchanges, the consumer has almost no recourse if something goes wrong. If your bitcoin wallet is wiped, you can't get those coins back before they disappear. The same could be said for sending a wire transfer to a scammer. If you want to stay safe, focus on credit cards and some e-wallets that offer dispute resolution and anti-theft measures for account holders.
Bonuses
Another advantage of using certain payment methods, especially credit cards, is the rewards. Most cards reward holders with a variety of point systems that can be very valuable to account holders. In addition to the deposit bonuses and loyalty rewards offered by the gaming sites themselves, players can also enjoy gifts and prizes on the card side of things. These can include free airline miles, cash back, and a variety of other rewards.
Convenience
At the end of the day, most gamblers are looking for ease of use. When you start a new pastime like online gambling, you probably don't want to create a bunch of new accounts or convert your money into a bunch of different currencies.
Sometimes a few extra steps up front are worth the time for added security or faster transaction speeds further down the chain. But some players just want to get started, and whatever they already have in their wallet or can use "right this second" is their deposit method of choice. Here are eight of the most popular ways to make a deposit at an online casino.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deposit method is the fastest?
Some deposit methods at betting sites offer instant funding and instant withdrawals. Some popular options that instantly fund accounts and allow for immediate withdrawals are credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, as well as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
However, keep in mind that betting platforms that specialize in certain types of financial transactions will generally be able to process these requests more quickly than gambling establishments that offer a wide variety of options. In some cases, cash deposit methods that are known to take several days may be processed immediately or very quickly at some sites.
Do I have to deposit and withdraw with the same banking method?
Absolutely not. In fact, it's not even possible with certain banking methods. Take the case of funding your account with a Mastercard: you might be able to do that, but withdrawing to a credit card account? Absolutely not. Sometimes it's the same with prepaid debit cards. However, many of the Internet-based options are more flexible and function more like e-wallets.
Online betting isn’t legal in my state; can I still deposit money?
In fact, the regulations may only add a step or two. Even though most states don't allow gambling over the Internet, they also don't have many laws that stop people from using gambling sites based in other countries.
Any legislation that makes any sense on the books is either aimed at stopping illegal gambling operators like the mafia, or at preventing banks from allowing money to flow between their customers' accounts and companies known to be involved in gambling.
Since it's not possible to link your checking account directly to your bookmaker, you'll probably need to use some sort of intermediary to fund your account. This could be a third-party e-wallet or a prepaid debit card. You could also use a credit card. Or, if you're feeling really adventurous, you could fund your account with cryptocurrency. However you do it, don't worry about the legal ramifications. Funding your account isn't illegal.
Which payment types are safest to use?
The safest way to deposit money at online casinos is to use a credit card. Major payment processors such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express protect players from fraud by flagging and reversing any unwanted purchases. They also have extensive dispute resolution departments that help consumers get their money back when merchants try to keep it. When you use a debit card or checking account to make a deposit at an online casino, your money is on the line. But when you use a credit card, the bank is using its money up front, and it definitely doesn't want some two-bit Internet scammer getting away with theft.
Why won’t some options work for me?
This is most likely due to the laws in your state or country. It may also depend on the particular gambling site. For American customers, the prohibition on using standard debit cards can be a little inconvenient.
Transactions that would be considered illegal may be blocked by your bank and/or website, leaving you to find another method of getting money into your betting account. Fortunately, we have a list of over 70 viable options at the top of this guide, each of which will give you access to the very best betting sites that accept that method.