Online Casinos Accepting Visa
Of all the credit and debit card brands, Visa is the most widely accepted at online casinos around the world. For international players, this is by far the fastest and most convenient payment option. For players in the US, more offshore casinos accept Visa than any other card – and these deposits usually go through first time despite the current banking restrictions.
You’ll find practical information on how to use your Visa card to make casino deposits below. After that I have weighed the pros and cons of this payment option, compared to the other methods available. Recommended casinos for Visa deposits for both US and International players can be found at the end of the page.
How To Make Visa Card Deposits to Online Casinos
If you are based in the US, then the UIGEA laws of 2006 are still having an effect on the ease of making casino deposits. This placed restrictions on the ability of banks to do business with gambling sites, though does no criminalize individual players from making these deposits. With the casino industry now based offshore, Visa can be used with international payment codes – and will often go through first time.
The steps you’ll need to follow to make a deposit are as follows:
First, register for a player account. This is quick and easy, and will often include an e-mail verification step. Head to the cashier next, and select Visa. You’ll be asked for the long credit card number, expiration date and the security number from the back of the card – along with the amount to deposit and any bonus code that the casino might use. After you hit the submit button you will find out very quickly whether your transaction has been accepted.
Offshore US casinos use international purchase codes with their payment processors to get around the banking restrictions. Visa often goes straight through, though if it does not, it may go though at a different time, or a backup card may work. Make sure you speak to your casinos customer support staff if your card does get declined. They will be able to advise you on the possible alternative payment options.
Pre-Paid Visa
A popular casino payment method for US based players is a pre-paid Visa card – the type which you can purchase from gas stations and convenience stores. You’ll need one which can be used internationally, and will pay a small fee at the point of purchase. If you run out of card options, you can also speak to your casino about using money transfer services like Western Union or Money Gram.
International Players
If you are outside of the US then you should have no problems using your Visa card for casino deposits. Note that some countries may have local restrictions, as applies to some Canadian banks with US branches.
Pros and Cons of Visa Card Casino Deposits
The main benefits of this method are speed and convenience. You can have your account funded and be enjoying the games within minutes. This is more than just a handy option for US players, for whom Visa is one of the most popular and reliable ways of getting around the current restrictive banking climate.
On the cons side, the fact that these cards are often linked to your bank account does raise security fears in the minds of some players. A good solution to this is to switch to an e-wallet such as Skrill or PayPal (for International players). These provide an extra layer of security – since you’ll not need to share card information with online merchants. Pre-paid Visa is a great alternative for US players.
US players are unable to withdraw any winnings to their Visa card. The alternatives are to request a paper check, or a money transfer method such as Western Union. Conversely, international players using this card will often have to withdraw back onto it – at least up to the amount of the initial deposit.
Recommended Visa Card Casinos
US players should stick to the biggest single offshore brands, Bovada and Club World Casino. This is part of the Bodog brand, which has been welcoming US players for more than 10 years. Bovada do not allow players from outside of the US. Customer support staff at this site are experts in helping you get your money on board so that you can enjoy the 100’s of titles from BetSoft and Realtime Gaming.
International players cannot go wrong with the trusted Mr. Green Casino. Instead of a download, this casino uses mobile and in-browser games from many different casino software providers including NetEnt, Microgaming, BetSoft, IGT and more.