The Best Ways for U.S. Players to
Deposit
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USA Online Poker
"I live in the US and I can't
use NETeller anymore. How do I deposit into an online poker site?"
The UIGEA, corrupt former Senator Bill
Frist, and the Department of Justice have claimed their latest
victim: NETeller. The payment processing giant, successful largely
because of online gambling transactions, has closed its doors to
US players. However, they are just one piece of the payment
processing pie. There are too many NETeller alternatives to allow
this announcement to affect your decision to deposit and play online
poker. Here are your options:
Deposit Using a US Credit Card
Online poker sites have always accepted
deposits by credit card - that wasn't the hard part. The problem
came when US banks began to voluntarily decline online gaming
transactions years ago. While virtually every US bank blocks
virtually every poker room from accepting funds, we have found
several new poker sites that let US players deposit with
a Visa or Mastercard block-free.
We like to say that these credit card poker
rooms let you spend your own money the way you want to for a change.
We are confident in recommending this service to other players as we
have successfully deposited with major bank cards within a few seconds.
Advantages:
Available to all US players.
No need for a third-party e-wallet. There is no need to establish an
account with another service as players can use their existing
Visa or
Mastercard. This alone makes it the most
convenient NETeller alternative.
Faster than NETeller. The longest part of the process is getting
your wallet.
No fees. Deposits do not incur any extra fees.
Sites accepting credit cards:
SPORTSBOOK POKER (full
review). Accepts US credit cards block-free. The minimum
deposit is $20.
SUPERBOOK
POKER (full
review). All US credit cards are accepted with a $20
minimum deposit.
PLAYERS
ONLY POKER (full
review). US credit cards are not blocked with a $20
minimum deposit.
Deposit Using ePassporte
IMPORTANT NOTE: ePassporte is
currently not available for use at any online poker site. We
recommend visiting our
US credit card page for several poker rooms that process
block-free US credit card deposits.
Sites like ePassporte.com work just like NETeller and are still available to all US players.
We recommend
setting up an account with ePassporte based on my good experiences so far. Once you verify your account, you
can simply deposit using your checking account or credit card. The
process is almost identical to NETeller and is very streamlined.
After funding your account you provide the poker site with your ePassporte account information and your deposit amount. You can then
instantly transfer it to your choice of online poker site. These
e-wallets are government-regulated, safe, secure NETeller
alternatives.
Advantages:
Available to all US players.
Works just like NETeller. These payment processors use the same
system: create a secure account, fund it using your bank account or
credit card,
and finally ship it to the site of your choice.
Less fees than NETeller. Using ePassporte and your checking account,
fees taken on future deposits are less than what NETeller or Firepay
used to charge. Try asking the poker room that you're signing up
with if they'll reimburse you for ePassporte fees. Chances are that
they will to get your business.
Widely accepted. All online poker sites accept multiple e-wallets to
fund your account.
ATM withdrawals. Users can request an ATM card for instant access to
cash in their account.
Sites accepting ePassporte:
POKER STARS (full
review). ePassporte is currently unavailable. Visit our
US credit card page for block-free alternatives.
FULL TILT POKER
(full review).
ePassporte is currently unavailable.
ABSOLUTE POKER (full
review). ePassporte is currently unavailable.
ULTIMATE
BET (full
review). ePassporte is currently unavailable.
DOYLE'S
ROOM (full
review). ePassporte is currently unavailable.
BUGSY'S
CLUB (full
review). ePassporte is currently unavailable.
Deposit Using NUCharge
One very simple NETeller alternative
that I have personally used is the NUCharge service (located at
nucharge.net). In fact, NUCharge actually requires less information
and takes less time than setting up a NETeller account. NUCharge
works through any credit or debit card and you can fund your account
instantly with up to $300. New customers are issued an account and
PIN number, which can be provided to the poker room to fund your
account.
NUCharge also gives you sign-in information to use for
future deposits, and you can fund your account up to $1,200 each
week. This service worked very well for me and I successfully
transferred funds to the poker site in a total of about 10 minutes.
Should you have any issues with your credit card being declined, I
recommend contacting your bank to approve the charge or using a card
issued by a different bank.
Advantages:
Available to all US players.
Easier than NETeller. The sign-up process is very simple and doesn't
require lengthy account verifications.
Instant funding. After your credit card is approved, your account is
funded right away.
Strong security methods. As you're creating your account, NUCharge
confirms personal information about you before you're allowed to
deposit. These are questions that are easily answered if you're the
rightful accountholder.
Sites accepting e-wallets:
BODOG
(full review).
Accepts NUCharge.
Deposit Using Cash Transfer
Another NETeller alternative that money
poker sites have accepted for years is the cash transfer option.
Typically, this requires going to a local branch, filling out a
paper form, and paying a small fee for cash to be sent
electronically to the receiver. Fortunately most 7-11 convenience
stores have installed ATM-like cash transfer machines for automated
transactions. You can both send and receive money at the machines. Once the money is sent, you provide
the poker site with a confirmation number and your poker account
should be funded within minutes.
Besides 7-11, there are literally
thousands of payment locations across the country. If you prefer,
you can also use this service online. I have used cash transfer
several times both in person and online without a problem. The fees
run anywhere from about 5-8%, but many poker rooms, like
Bodog, will
cover the fees if you deposit enough. Be sure to ask the site's
customer service for specific cash transfer details.
Advantages:
Available to all US players.
Quick and easy. No account verification or sensitive information is
required.
ATM-like service. Many local 7-11 stores have cash transfer machines
for both sending and receiving funds.
Instant funding. Simply pay cash or credit card at a local branch or
use your credit card online to send the funds to the poker site
immediately.
Fees may be covered. Many poker sites will gladly pay for your cash
transfer fees if you request it and deposit over a specific amount.
Sites accepting cash transfers:
BODOG
(full review).
Accepts cash transfer 24 hours a day and covers
fees.
POKER STARS (full
review). Accepts cash transfers.
FULL TILT POKER
(full review).
Accepts cash transfers.
ABSOLUTE POKER (full
review). Accepts cash transfers.
ULTIMATE
BET (full
review). Accepts cash transfers.
Deposit Using Paper Methods like
Check, Money Order, or Cashier's Check
While I would recommend one of
the electronic methods outlined above over these paper
methods, if you don't have a checking account or would just
prefer to do things more traditionally, online poker sites
accept several alternative methods.
Almost all poker sites
will accept either checks, money orders, or cashier's checks
upon request. Coming from our site, US players also receive
special bonuses on any deposit method. Simply e-mail the site's support department,
let them know your situation, and ask them their advice.
Poker rooms want your business and will work with you to
deposit.
VIEW ALL U.S. POKER SITES
Deposit Directly from your Checking
Account
Many online poker sites had previously accepted direct
deposits from your personal checking account. Usually, all you needed
to have handy is your routing number and account number. This
deposit method is usually called an "e-Check" as the transaction is
basically treated like an electronic check. I often used the
e-Check method and because of its simplicity, I don't know why it
wasn't more a more popular NETeller alternative prior to the
shutdown.
Advantages:
Available to all US players.
Simplicity. Instead of dealing with a separate NETeller account, you
only need to provide your checking account details.
Little or no fees. Every online poker site that I have used direct
deposit with hasn't charged me a fee for doing so.
Instant deposit. Checking accounts can also be approved instantly so
you don't have to wait days for your deposit to process.
Transaction should be accepted. Unlike many credit cards, I have
never had a problem with my bank denying e-check deposits into poker
sites.
Payouts to checking account. Most sites allow you to cashout
winnings right back to your back account.
Sites accepting checking accounts:
None currently available.
Conclusions
Online poker and US players
have certainly faced their share of adversity over the past
several months due to a few special interests and corrupt
politicians. However, the latest round of weak financial
pullouts certainly doesn't spell doom for the the industry.
Those of you playing online long enough might even remember
the same sort of panic after Paypal stopped accepting
gambling transactions several years ago.
As I've tried to
outline in this page, there are still way too many NETeller
alternatives to simply give up on playing the game you love
from the comfort of your home. If you have any further
questions on
why online poker isn't illegal or
where you can still play online, please view our pages
dedicated to those subjects.
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