The End of the Credit Card

Deposit

So you have spent hours, or even days, searching and you have finally found your home for online slots.  Unfortunately, your homework is only half way done.  Now you have to select the best option from the multitude of available deposit methods.  Selecting a deposit method is necessary to begin transactions with your online casino and it is no longer as easy as just “charging it.” 

Back in 1997, the early days of online gambling, players could max out their entire credit card on online casinos.  It was not long before the banking associations that manage Visa and Master Card put a halt to that.  In 2002 they began blocking all credit card transaction at online casinos and gambling websites.  Banking associations require that all credit card transactions be marked by a merchant code.   When ever a player would attempt to deposit funds at an online gambling page, the banking associations were able to recognize the code and block the transaction.  

New York’s Attorney General, Elliot Spitzer, issued another huge blow to credit card gambling.  After an overwhelming number of internet financial fraud cases began to surface, the banks backing the credit cards had to either block the transaction or pay up.  Spitzer strong armed CitiBank, the world’s largest credit card issuer, into taking action against using credit cards for online gambling. 

To make matters worse, banks were not able to sue players because Canada and most states in the US do not enforce law that hold gambling debtors to repaying their debts.  The whole situation was getting pretty nasty for banks, credit card companies, and gamblers alike.  This string of scenarios has made the direct use of credit cards very unattractive.  

Then there was PayPal, the third party financial processor.  For a while after the credit card blow up, player that still wanted to gamble with their credit cards were able to use PayPal as a sort of a loophole.  That is until eBay bought out PayPal, then Elliot Spitzer reared his head again and pressured PayPay to cease accepting deposits via credit cards.  It became obvious that gamblers were using the deposits to funnel through PayPal and into online casinos.   eBay ended up paying PayPal some $200,000 to cover the cost of the Attorney General’s investigation.    

Now, a score of third party deposit systems can be found all over the net.  Not all of them accept credit card transactions, however there are a few that do.  There are a couple that will charge for deposits, on the other hand some of them only charge if players want their money instantly available.   It may seem strange, but some US players are allowed to use their debit cards to pay deposits.  But, gambling with money you actually have is not as much of a problem as gambling with money you do not actually have from a credit card. 

The new third party deposit systems are preferred by many casinos.  As a matter of fact numerous casinos will actually tack bonuses on your deposit amount just for using these alternative methods.  The bonus is usually no more than 10-15% of your initial deposit, but there have been promotions that boast 100% bonuses.  How is that for an incentive?

Listed below are a few of the latest, safest, and most reliable third party deposit systems and how they work.  

Think of NETeller as an online wallet.  This free online money transfer system allows you to transfer, withdraw, and deposit funds with any online merchant that supports the NETeller service.  Your NETeller account can be funded by your credit card, bank deposits, and InstaCash.

InstaCash is one of NETeller’s most wonderful features.  It allows players to instantly transfer money from their bank account into their NETeller account.  This way you can make your deposit and begin playing immediately without the nagging pain of waiting until your funds are cleared.  And the best thing about instaCash…it is absolutely free.

FirePay operates in a similar fashion to a debit card.  Players can deposit funds into this online bank account and use it to purchase goods from web-based merchants.  For our purposes, you can use these funds to start your online casino account.  Once the account is set up, it quick and secure.

In order to fund a FirePay account you have to use the ACH method:

ACH In order to use an ACH, you do not need a credit card, all you need is an active US bank account.  An ACH allows you to authorize a direct bank transfer to a nominated beneficiary account.  In other words, you authorize the transfer of funds from your account into either a FirePay account or, in some cases, an online casino account. 

The PrePaidATM card is available to all US citizens with a valid Social Security Number.  It works just like any other ATM card only it is not tied to a bank.  It can be funded by multiple means, such as ACH, a credit card, bank wiring, etc.  Though there are a few minor fees tied to it, it is completely secure.  It is generally usable wherever debt cards are accepted as well as thousands of ATM machines.  

The Gaming Card was designed with online players in mind.  As an exclusive Internet Payment Account it provides exceptional services to its select VIP customers.  The Gaming Card boasts speedy payouts.  Cash-ins are deposited immediately into your ATM bank account.  Players can spend up to $3000 dollars in game credits per day. 

The Gaming Card is funded by either, ATM, bank wiring, Western Union, or a credit card. 

900Pay is one of the newer, more innovative deposit methods available to players in Canada and the US.  As long as there is not a 900 number block on your phone, 900Pay is as easy as punching in a 900 number.  All of your charges will then discreetly appear on your phone bill as Navaho Net.  Credit cards and personal information are not required for 900Pay, that alone adds a certain extra level of security. 

Players that are not registered with 900Pay have a $105 monthly limit.  Registered member have a $5000 monthly limit.  If you are playing at an online casino that accepts 900Pay, it only makes sense to register. 

Citadel Commerce is an organization dedicated to creating secure online purchasing options for customers in the US and Canada.  One of their many options is an electronic checking account.  The account does not require the use of a credit card and clears faster than an ACH Transfer.  All you need is an active bank account.  Player get the bonus of having quicker access to there casino winnings.

Citadel is quite established and offers a wealth of options.  For more information it is best to click the Citadel logo and visit their site. 

PaySpark is another exclusive account offered to online gamblers.  Players can only apply for a PaySpark ATM account on an invitation basis only.  Members of PaySpark receive their winning directly into the PaySpark ATM account.  Upon becoming a member, players receive a Cirrus ATM Debit Card, allowing them immediate access to their winnings at hundreds of thousands of ATMs across the globe.  Members can even access the PaySpark website for free statements. 

There is not minimum balance required of a PaySpark account.  Actually, accounts are allowed to sit dormant at $0 for 180 days before they are closed automatically.  Another plus is a 2% credit interest per annum, paid monthly, for accounts that keep above $500 (500 US Dollars). 

The tricky thing about PaySpark is that in order to apply for an account, you need an active account.  So the best thing to do is to apply through any casino or sponsor that accepts PaySpark.

Click2Pay allows players to use either their bank account or their credit card to pre-fund an online wallet.  This gives them the ability to make deposits at various online casinos.  What makes Click2Pay extra special is that it has the capability of supporting full multi-currency.  Players can make transactions in the US Dollar, the British Pound, and the Euro.  These are the three currencies supported by the Belle Rock Gaming Casinos and Poker Rooms. 

Good Luck!