Casinos Accepting Credit and Debit Cards – How to Work with Plastic and Find the Best Venue
In the early days of the online casino industry, using plastic to deposit and withdraw funds wasn’t always an option. Banking regulations often restricted the use of credit and debit cards for gambling, which forced online casinos to provide alternative options to facilitate financial transactions. Direct bank transfers and E-Wallets such as Neteller and Skrill, became some of the commonly accepted methods of moving money to and from a casino account.
After some time had passed, the banks loosened their policies, and now most casinos in Europe offer Visa and Mastercard debit options to deposit and withdraw money – along with multiple other banking methods. Today, we take a look at how casinos process credit and debit card transactions, and also list things you should watch out for.
The Difference Between Using Debit and Credit Cards
Not all jurisdictions worldwide allow the use of credit and debit cards for funding online casino accounts. Players from the US are restricted from making casino transactions using plastic, in an attempt to discourage North American citizens from playing in online casinos. Because of that, alternative banking methods such as Bitcoin, as well as many others are becoming increasingly popular in those countries. With that exception, most online casinos worldwide support and encourage the use of credit/debit cards as a standard.
Determining The Best Debit and Credit Card Casino for You
There are a couple of essential factors you should explore before depositing your hard-earned cash. Bear in mind that if a casino accepts credit and debit cards, it doesn’t automatically mean that it will be good, and this is why we’ve listed a few essential tips, that will save you both time and money.
Present Security Protocols and Regulation
One of the first things you need to check is if the casino in question is legit. The most significant safety net is the license it has and the regulator behind it. Also, additional certificates by game auditors like eCogra, for example, will secure the fair play of the games.
The Amount and Variety of Games
The best credit cards casinos in the business will provide an exceptional games selection in both quality and quantity. At least a couple of hundred slots, some card/table games, and video poker are almost mandatory to be present within a good casino’s game roster. If you want tables with real dealers, look for operators that have a live casino section as well.
The Quality and Quantity of the Promotions
Thanks to the Internet, the house edge is the lowest it has been in the history of gambling. Even better, the players are being spoiled with all kinds of promotions that provide extra value. Some of the best casinos that offer credit and debit card support will give you endless opportunities to earn more cash.
Waiting Time for Cash-Outs
When it comes to getting your money, credit cards are not the fastest payment option out there, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait forever to receive your money. A couple of working days is fine, anything longer than a week in total is simply not acceptable – you can find more about withdrawal speeds in the cashier section of a casino.
Casino Mobile Version – Card Compatibility
Playing on the go is fun and convenient. If you’re one of the millions who like to enjoy games on their phone or tablet, make sure to pick from the casinos with a stable mobile version. The key factors here, are the variety of games and platform performance – a casino with a good mobile platform usually means excellent card support.
A Proper Customer Support Service
Any respectable casino should take good care of its customers. If any issue arises, it should be resolved quickly with the assistance of the staff. Live chat and phone lines are the best way to handle this, preferably working 24/7. The fastest way to check if a casino has a proper customer support department is to see how fast the online chat function works; that is if its present within the casino platform in question. Remember, proper casino support staff will never ask you for your credit and debit card details!
Credit and Debit Card Brands Accepted Within Online Casinos
Credit Cards | Debit Cards |
---|---|
VISA | Visa Debit |
Master Card | Visa Electron |
AmEx | Maestro |
Chase | Solo |
Discover | Switch |
Most online casinos that accept MasterCard and Visa provide the facility for customers to make deposits using debit and credit cards. It is also becoming more common for casinos to facilitate withdrawals using those very same methods. Bear in mind that some brands slightly differ from the commonly known name of their parent companies, but this is done so customers would be able to tell the difference between the two types of cards easily. We have listed the names of the most widely accepted debit and credit plastics in online casinos below.
How Do You Use Credit and Debit Cards For Online Gambling
Funding a casino account using a debit or a credit card is extremely easy both for depositing and withdrawing funds. The process is more or less the same as the one when using a card to make a purchase online. To deposit money in a casino account, a player will need to register in the gambling website of their choice, and then visit the cashier section. Usually, there will be an element or a form dubbed “Add Funds/Make Deposit”, from which the account holder can select “Debit or Credit Card” as a payment option.
Once the preferred method is selected, a user will have to input details such as “Amount”, “Card Numer”, “Expiration Date”, “CVS Code” (also known as a Security Code), and “Billing Address”. When the information input is completed and checked, press OK – it’s that easy. For withdrawals, your account needs to be verified – if it is, any payout will be done directly to the card you’ve made your initial deposit with (if the casino in question supports card withdrawals).
Potential Challenges When Paying with a Card
Assuming that there are enough funds in a user’s bank account (if you’re depositing with a debit card), the transaction should be completed in seconds. Once the added funds are displayed in the account balance, a player will be good to go and play at the casino for real money bets. Debit cards can still be “declined” even when there are sufficient funds in the player’s account; unfortunately, some banks will always flag gambling-related charges as a concern, and won’t permit the financial request. Players should also be aware that in the interests of financial security, a credit or debit card with a name different than the one of the casino account holder, cannot be used.
Cards Issued by E-Wallet Brands Might Not Always Be Accepted by Online Casinos
E-wallet Companies like Skrill, Neteller, Payoneer, and others issue their own MasterCard and Visa prepaid cards. Those cards can be used for depositing funds into a casino account, but given their pre-paid nature, makes them illegible for withdrawal procedures. Although pre-paid cards can bear the “Visa” or “MasterCard” brands, they function on a different level, which can limit their compatibility with online casinos.
Advantages of Using Debit and Credit Cards
In terms of advantages, both credit and debit cards overlap in many aspects. While there is practically no difference between the way debit and credit cards are used, they will have some unique benefits which we will explain below. Check them out.
- Convenience – using credit and debit cards is effortless.
- Deposit Speed – funding your account can practically happen in a manner of minutes.
- No Transfer Charges – In most casinos, making a deposit with the use of a credit or debit card won’t cost you a dime!
- High Limits – online casinos that accept credit and debit cards usually allow the deposit and withdrawal of large amounts of money.
- Security – a player’s financial transfer information is traditionally protected by 128-bit or 256-bit encryption protocols.
- Debit Only “Natural Restriction” – since players can only use money present in their bank accounts, they can’t spend more than they have.
- Consumer Protection Measures – credit and debit card issuers add additional security measures such as two-step verification, and other means for more protection.
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Disadvantages of Credit and Debit Cards
While undoubtedly there are a whole lot of benefits that make credit and debit cards some of the most convenient financial management instruments in the world, they do come with some “natural” drawbacks. It is important to mention that some of the benefits listed above can be counted as drawbacks as well – here we go.
- Availability – in some cases, casinos will not accept debit, credit, or both types of cards. The same applies to cards of less-known brands.
- Credit Only “Debt Risk” – a credit card practically uses funds that players do not own; it can be quite easy to “slip up” and overspend, furthering their debt.
- Withdrawal Procedure – if supported, withdrawing to a credit or debit card from your casino account will require a tedious account verification process.
- Waiting Times – putting the verification procedure aside, it may take up to 5 business days for funds to arrive from a casino to your card’s account.
- Percentage Fees – depending on the casino, both deposits and withdrawals may be taxed. If they are, they are usually a percentage of the amount deposited/withdrawn.
Conclusion – The Value of Using Debit Cards at the Online Casino
Credit and debit cards provide a convenient, fast, and safe way to deposit and withdraw money from an online casino. As with all payment methods, there are specific pros and cons, but they are very well balanced, and the good definitely outweighs the bad. While taking all of these factors into account, credit and debit cards still represent one of the best options for making financial transactions with online casinos – when the option is available. MasterCard and Visa online casinos are the widest spread online gambling venues online; it’s just the matter of finding the right one.