AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express is one of the world's most popular credit cards for casino deposits. While originat...
Deposits are a necessary part of playing casino games online. You cannot play casino games for real money without first placing a deposit. Hence, this guide right here is designed to bring you more information and clarify how deposits at online casinos work.
You can find detailed guides for specific payment options, with most common methods such as Visa, MuchBetter, PayPal, and Bitcoin detailing in full how deposits work.
Finally, the guide also includes payments listed by country, allowing you to locate banking for your jurisdiction faster and easier.
Besides deposits, it is also important to understand casino withdrawal methods, and important aspects of that. For example, how online casinos process withdrawals, what are casino with no max cash outs, processing fees, and so on. You can learn more about withdrawal methods right here.
Casino banking covers a couple of important aspects. Before you pick a payment service as your designated casino banking, make sure it meets all your requirements and needs. Overall, it’s important to choose a method that matches your preferences in:
Usually, online casinos credit payouts back to the same method used to make deposits. For instance, if you used a Visa credit card to make deposits, you can use it to make withdrawals as well. Players should also note that some casino deposit methods do not serve as casino withdrawal methods too. In such cases, players have to select a different method to withdraw their winnings. Also, if you claimed any online casino bonuses, you have to first satisfy their wagering requirements before making a payout request.
- CO EditorBanking at online casinos has evolved a lot over the years. Players still tend to use traditional casino payment methods such as Visa and MasterCard cards, but there are new and more efficient services that shorten the procedure, have no fees, and with amazing processing times.
In most cases, it’s easy to distinguish between four different main categories of payment methods – the cards (debit and credit, or prepaid), e-wallets, mobile payments, and cryptocurrencies.
Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are famous worldwide. They are universally used, and generally most gambling casinos offer these.
They are great options for players who do not use mobile payments or crypto.
Visa and similar cards essentially link the card directly to the casino, and so the payments are easy to complete. They are praised for tight security, as few options are more reliable than cards. However, there are some downsides to these options. First, cashing out lasts a very long time – days – so that’s not good compared to modern options that are much faster. Moreover, some sites do not accept credit cards, only debit cards, so it’s necessary to have enough funds on the card to ensure you can deposit and play at a casino.
Prepaid cards are a fantastic solution as they are short-term and single use (mostly), so they allow you to use them and then move on.
Besides Visa and Mastercard cards, you can also use Maestro, Amex, Discover, and many other cards in a number of markets. Prepaid methods include Neosurf and Paysafecards, and many other vouchers. Neosurf is very famous in Australia.
E-wallets are on the rise. Short for electronic wallets, e-wallets are digital apps that function as real-life wallets. Customers link their cards which are then stored in the wallet, without the need for linking to the bank or bank account.
When you decide to place a deposit with an e-wallet, you will be able to select the wallet, currency, and amount in a few simple steps. And not only that, but you can also use your chosen wallet to withdraw funds. Although this sounds like something that is not very important, it is – especially at casinos that require you to use the same method for both types of transactions.
One of the main reasons why e-wallets have become so popular is because they are fast. Namely, deposits are instant, but withdrawals take only a couple of hours to be cleared and processed. That is a major step forward from cards that take 3-5 days to complete.
Currently, some of the most popular wallets that you can use on the internet to deposit and withdraw money from casinos are PayPal, MuchBetter, Skrill, and Neteller.
Jeton, Klarna, and MiFinity are other popular choices that you can use if you want easy, hassle-free options.
Mobile users are increasingly searching for methods that support mobile platforms. And indeed, depositing money via smartphones or tablets is much easier than always running to desktop devices to deposit money, especially if you are used to playing casino games on mobile.
When we say mobile payments, we are actually thinking about an array of different payment methods that support banking on portable devices. Some may link to players’ phone numbers; others may be simply e-wallets that work great on mobile devices. Many variations exist, but the main principle is that they are enjoyed by mobile users who prefer to use their phones rather than computers.
Currently, some of the most popular mobile payments are Siirto, Siru, Paybyphone, Boleto, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Apple Pay and Google Pay are wallets for iOS and Android users, respectively. They are also wallets, but because of their correlation with mobile devices, we consider them to be more mobile than wallets (although they are both).
All mobile services have their market restrictions, and target markets. If you live in the UK, you will be happy to hear that both Apple and Google pay are available, with Apple Pay being the more popular one. Google Pay is among the most popular services at casinos in India.
The fourth major casino banking category is crypto payments. It all started with Bitcoin, which is one of the most popular cryptocurrencies today. However, cryptocurrency and blockchain are a bit notorious outside of crypto circles because of their volatility and unpredictability.
Hence, it’s not common to see crypto casinos everywhere, although they work in most markets, except select few (such as the UK and Ireland). Nevertheless, they have proved to be very convenient and easy to use. All transfers are public but anonymous, which makes them safe, and it is not easy to pull a scam.
They are preferred by casinos with Curacao and Anjouan licenses, or casinos turned towards a number of markets in Europe. However, they are very popular in the USA, too.
Bitcoin is still number one choice, but other currencies are not that far behind. You can use Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Binance, Tether, Monero, Solana, Tron, and many other currencies to deposit and withdraw money from casinos.
Before you sign up at a crypto casino, make sure to create an account and top up a valid crypto wallet. That is the only way to deposit at cryptocurrency casinos.
Deposits are instant and generally hassle-free. It’s withdrawals that can cause problems for the players, especially for novices unaccustomed to verification procedures. But deposits are related to withdrawals, which is why it’s important to pick a reliable payment service for both.
Moreover, the deposit process tends to be very different for every banking service. That is why it is best to explore detailed guides for specific banking services you intend to use. However, some basic steps are very similar, which is why we created this step-by-step guide for placing deposits at casinos online. Here is how depositing at online casinos works:
Here is a brief list of all the factors that affect the choice of payment services.
Safety has always been a major thorn on players’ side because no matter what you do, casinos always can find a way to scam you. That is why it is important to pick casinos, game suppliers, and payment services with the best security protocols. Data privacy is paramount too.
In the past, players typically chose cards such as Visa and Mastercard as safe options. These two were declared the best services for players concerned with safety. However, there’s just one major downside: they are exceptionally slow. Even though that is not important for deposits, you don’t want to wait for a Visa withdrawal. And some casinos have a rule: one payment option used both for deposits and withdrawals. Hence, if you choose Visa for deposits, it’s going to be Visa for cashouts, too…
Luckily, it’s not a rule in all casinos, only select few. Still, be sure to check that out before depositing to avoid unpleasant situations.
Because cryptocurrencies are controversial, players turned to other platforms that could ensure safe payments.
e-wallets have turned out to be the answer to many questions and dilemmas. Because they are linked with bank accounts and casinos simultaneously, they can facilitate payments that are much faster than with regular cards.
They are also very secure as they work with official banks. Moreover, they support both deposits and withdrawals, which is fantastic and convenient.
So, if you want to use safe payments, try to stick with cards – Visa and Mastercard – and e-wallets – MuchBetter, PayPal, Skrill, etc.
Payments are often geo-locked and work only in select countries. Hence, it’s important to choose a payment service that works in your country and is available at your chosen casino.
Below are short guides to playing in different casino markets and the choice of banking available in each listed market.
The USA is notorious for its closed gambling market that is only now slowly opening up. With each new state that allows online gambling comes a specific set of challenges that players (and operators) face, a major one being banking.
Most US online casinos are old-school and still stick to a narrow selection of payments. Some of the most common ones are credit cards such as AMEX, Visa and MasterCard, as well as cryptocurrency and vouchers. With that being said, Bitcoin is often the best option overall, due to strict minimum and maximum deposit limits, transfer fees, and currency conversion.
Payment | Bitcoin |
Type | Cryptocurrency |
Limits | $10-$4,000+ |
Fees | None |
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency. It’s the first one and still the most popular cryptocurrency used in online casinos. It’s praised for speed, efficiency, and privacy – Bitcoin transfers are anonymous and public (via the public ledger) so there’s no way to create a scam with Bitcoin. Moreover, casinos that use BTC offer little to no transaction fees (in most cases, no fees) and players typically have better limits with BTC than with other services. Bitcoin is standard at US online casinos. You cannot use cryptocurrency in the UK and several other markets.
Europe is a massive market comprised of a multitude of smaller markets. It’s a constellation that has millions of players per year, which makes it one of the key parts of the industry.
In general, banking services that work in Europe are in fact services that work in a large number of EU countries. However, they are labelled as ‘European’ as they can be used in more than one country.
In Europe, crypto is allowed, but mobile payments and e-wallets are far more popular. Traditional services such as Visa and MasterCard are also widely used.
Payment | Visa |
Type | Credit/debit card |
Limits | $10-$1,000+ |
Fees | Depends on the casino |
Visa is the most famous banking method used at gambling websites. Visa, as well as Visa Electron, are common in every possible market – from the USA to the UK, Canada, Australia, and Asia.
Visa can be either a credit card or a debit card. It’s important to note that credit cards are slowly going out of practice, with the UK spearheading the credit card ban. Hence, if you are going to use Visa, try to use a debit option. The perks of using Visa include widespread availability, security, and minimal fees.
Canada is another major gambling market. However, unlike the other North American market (USA), it’s generally very open and welcoming both to operators and game suppliers. As a result, Canada is one of the biggest and most interesting gambling markets out there.
Canadians use a wide array of payment services to deposit and withdraw money from their accounts. In general, it’s not odd to see credit and debit cards right next to e-wallets and crypto payments. The fees are always minimal, the choice rich, making Canada a very good market to play in. Not to mention the scope of games that you can get if you play at CA online casinos.
If you want to use the safest banking in Canada, we recommend Interac and Instadebit as they are the most common options.
Payment | Interac e-Transfer |
Type | Funds transfer service |
Limits | $20-$5,000+ |
Fees | None |
Interac is a fund transfer service that works similarly to a debit card. The service links the casino and your bank account, allowing you to create a deposit swiftly and securely. It’s a Canadian service, and it works only with Canadian banks. In other words, you cannot use it if you do not have an account at a Canadian bank.
Interac e-Transfer is thus available in most Canadian casinos, which makes it a perfect banking choice. Moreover, it supports withdrawals, which is very important for casinos that require the use of one single payment service for both types of transactions.
Interac is also free of any transfer fees, but your bank might charge you for using a mediator to transfer money. Check that before depositing. Limits vary from casino to casino.
The UK is perhaps the most famous online gambling market in the world. It’s governed by the UKGC which rules with an iron fist – or a long list of guidelines and laws implemented to protect the players. It’s therefore a very safe market, both for casinos and the players.
The UK is also famous for banning credit cards, which soon spread out to Ireland and other neighboring countries. As a result, players in the UK cannot use credit cards to deposit funds, but they can use debit cards, Trustly, and e-wallets. Mobile services are also very popular for casino banking.
Payment | Trustly |
Type | Online banking |
Limits | £10-£200+ |
Fees | None |
Trustly is famous for the Pay n Play casinos. It’s an instant payment service that was previously known as InstantBank. Trustly is today known as one of the most secure banking services with impeccable reputation, great timing, and no fees.
And the best thing about it is that you do not need to register if you don’t want to. Simply find a Pay n Play casino and play without leaving your personal information. You are thus safe and protected from harm and still allowed to enjoy your favorite games.
Besides the UK, you can use Trustly in most other European countries, most notably, Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Now, on a global scale, the variety of games, bonuses, and banking is astonishing. Online casinos that focus on a number of gambling markets always have the richest game lobbies, as well as the best casino banking services.
Therefore, if you choose a gambling website with a global focus, you will likely have a wide scope of games and payments to choose from. Debit cards, as well as prepaid cards, are the most common way to top up casino accounts.
Moreover, cryptocurrency and mobile payments are becoming more and more important because they are much faster than cards, and just as reliable and secure.
Our recommendation is MuchBetter, an e-wallet that is becoming more and more popular among the players.
Payment | MuchBetter |
Type | E-wallet |
Limits | $20-$2,000+ |
Fees | None |
MuchBetter is a British mobile payment service that acts as a wallet for users. It’s very convenient as it both supports deposits and withdrawals, which is a requirement at many casinos. Even though it’s a UK service, it’s available across the globe, with the list of markets constantly expanding.
You can use MuchBetter using three options: MuchBetter Wallet, MuchBetter Gateway, and MuchBetter Wearables. There is also a MuchBetter prepaid Mastercard. So, there is a wide array of products for users around the world.
The wallet does come with a few fees attached, which you can check out at the official website. The service supports a limited number of currencies, including cryptocurrencies.
Most popular questions related to online casino payments!
This usually happens if you reside in a grey jurisdiction. If your bank or credit card company has declined your credit card transaction, you will have to select an alternative payment method such as wire transfer, eWallets, or cryptocurrencies.
Online casinos prefer crediting payouts back to the same card used for deposits. However, MasterCard cannot be used as a withdrawal option in many countries. In such cases, players have to choose a different banking method for casino payouts.
It is absolutely safe to deposit real money in your online gaming account provided you have signed up at a licensed and reputed online casino. Before signing up, make sure that the online casino is eCOGRA certified and uses the latest SSL digital encryption security technology.
Top-rated online casinos maintain records of each deposit and withdrawal you make at the online casino and you can view this history whenever you wish.
Some online casinos offer small match bonuses of 10% or 15% on deposits made using certain alternative payment methods such as Sofort, Skrill, and Neteller.
Thanks to her keen eye for details and dedication to keeping her finger on the pulse of iGaming, our Editor-in-Chief Andjelka has ensured CasinosOnline remains a trusted source of unbiased and right information in the industry.