Debit and credit cards are commonly used to make a wide variety of purchases, both in stores and online. Increasingly, many people who play at popular online casinos also use these cards to make deposits, taking advantage of the many benefits to be gained from these secure payment methods.
Making a Deposit
When you play at an online casino, you will need to have funds available in your account. There are different ways to deposit funds into your account, and each casino you play at may vary in what payment methods it accepts. Debit and credit cards are normally accepted in most online casinos in the UK and Europe, where you simply use the cards to make a payment transaction, as you would for any other purchase online. The money will be instantly deposited to your account.
Using a Debit Card
There are many benefits to using a debit card to deposit funds at an online casino. For a start, you can transfer money instantly, so this method offers great convenience. You won’t be charged by your bank to make a deposit, but bear in mind that standard fees are normally imposed by casinos, although this can vary, with some fees covered by the casino.
Security is one of the top reasons for using a debit card at an online casino. Since you need to enter a PIN number to make a deposit, this ensures your money is safe and protected from theft or fraud. You can also securely and quickly withdraw funds at ATMs.
When paying using a debit card at an online casino, you can only draw on funds that already exist in your bank account. This can be good in that you only play with what you can afford, and you won’t get you into debt, but it does reduce the flexibility of your play.
Debit cards are widely used, so they offer a quick, convenient, safe and reliable method of casino play in the UK and Europe. They are less likely to be accepted in the USA, however.
Using a Credit Card
Credit cards are also very widely accepted in many countries for playing at online casinos, and tend to be more accepted in the USA than debit cards. Like debit cards, when you use a credit card to make a deposit, your transaction is instantaneous, so this offers a convenient and quick way to play your favourite online games.
Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, credit cards also provide consumers with financial protection. If an online casino went bankrupt, you can claim funds back, provided you were playing within the limits specified. This can offer financial peace of mind for many people. Many credit cards also offer fraud protection, which makes them a safe payment method.banner
Credit cards draw money against the line of credit you have been approved for by your credit card provider. This means that you can still make a deposit if you haven’t actually got the funds in your account, provided it’s within your credit limit. The advantage of this is that it gives you more flexibility – you can play today and pay later. The disadvantage to this is that you are more likely to get into debt using your credit card, and interest may mount up if you don’t have the funds to pay it back on time. You will also need to check with the credit card provider and the casino as to whether there are transactional fees that need to be paid, as this can vary.
If you manage to control payments, only play within your means and avoid interest charges, there can be some benefits to using credit cards for online play. Some credit card providers give you points, air miles or other rewards which can be used towards holidays or shopping, for example. You don’t get these same perks when using a debit card.
Although credit and debit cards are both accepted at online casinos, since there is a higher risk of rejected payments with a credit card, you may find that some casinos prefer players to use debit cards. You can often receive bonuses or perks if you use a debit card.