Declined? Using Alternative Online Payment Options
Most of us can't use credit cards anymore at online casinos ... but luckily there are many safer and more secure online payment options available.
Has this ever happened to you? You're excited to take advantage of one of the amazing casino bonuses on Casino Sage so you download and install a great new online casino, type in your credit card number, and ... DECLINED! Almost every online casino says that they will accept VISA or MasterCard, but if you live in the United States (and some other countries) credit cards don't work in online casinos.
Casinos and independent companies have created many alternative payment options in the last few years that are safer, easier, and more secure than using credit cards ... and they're accepted every time. Services like Neteller and FirePay have emerged as online payment leaders, but there are tons of options available to make online gambling payments and withdrawals.
Why won't my credit card work?
Back when online gambling first became popular, credit cards were used almost exclusively to make payments and withdrawals in online casinos. It worked great for a while, but as the internet public became smarter and credit card security couldn't keep up, online casinos were experiencing enormous amounts of credit card fraud. Players would use a credit card to deposit money, play casino games, and then cancel the credit card charges. As you can imagine, the casinos as well as credit card companies grew very upset as everyone was losing money.
Along with the fraud and chargebacks, credit card companies were pressured with legal issues associated with online gambling and offshore casinos. One by one, banks, casinos, and credit card companies pulled the plug on online gambling transactions using credit cards.
Alternative e-cash payment options
Today, the most popular and by far the easiest and most secure method to transfer money between you and your favorite online casino are e-cash payment options like Neteller and FirePay. Both services let you transfer money directly from your U.S. bank account into an e-cash account, and then transfer it instantly to any online casino. These payment websites are safe because you're transferring real money from your bank account, which protects the casino from the threat of chargebacks. They're secure because they are run by independent financial institutions that employ very high security standards. Neteller even requires the use of a special secure ID to withdraw money. Lots of casinos offer extra bonuses for using these alternative payment methods, too. Some other e-cash options worth mention are VASPay, ECO Card, PrePaid ATM, and Gaming Card.
Transactions using any of these services are usually instant, but can sometimes take a few days to draw from your bank account. Fees are very reasonable, if not free.
ACH transactions
Some casinos will even draw directly from your bank account without going through an e-cash website. This method works well, but often takes a long time. Expect to wait three to seven days for your deposit to go through, and even longer for withdrawals.
Wire Transfers
Anyone with a bank account can do a wire transfer, which are very fast, safe, and reliable. But they're expensive! A wire transfer can cost you as much as $35 per transaction ... regardless of the amount of the transfer. You're much better off using a service like Neteller which offers the same security and speed, at a fraction of the cost.
Stay tuned for an individual review of each of the online payment options described above ... coming soon on Casino Sage!
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