How To Deposit Into Online Poker Rooms - Legal Poker Deposits

If you are familiar with how an online poker site operates, then you probably know that making a deposit is one of the most important parts. Without any money in your account, there is no way to play poker for real money online! Most operators offer players, including those in the U.S., as many ways to make a deposit as they can. That is because it's not a 'one size fits all' mentality especially since U.S. gambling regulations that can prevent players from making deposits into gambling accounts through traditional funding methods. It can be done, but sometimes it can be a bit of a pain. As you read on, we're going to educate you on the methods that are available to make deposits plus let you in on some of the benefits and disadvantages that each offer.

The following information caters to the U.S. player as players in other countries are not limited in the ways that they can make deposits into poker sites. If you are outside of the U.S., just make sure the poker site you use has numerous methods and especially one that you know you want to use.

Methods Used For Depositing In Poker Sites That Take USA Players

Below are descriptions of some of the most common USA methods to deposit into an online poker site. Not all of these will be found at every site, but these will be at most that you come across. Some of these sites may offer one or two of these, some might have all. Be sure to read about these especially if you are not able to use a credit card as that is sometimes the case for those in the United States.

Credit/Debit Card Deposits - Major credit cards are often a favorite of online gambling sites as well as players in general. They are nice, because just about everyone over the age of 18 has at least one credit/debit card, or several. The credit cards that are most often accepted at the best online poker sites are backed by the major creditors in the industry. VISA leads the way, but you can also find a limited number of poker rooms that accept MasterCard and American Express backed cards too. When it comes to USA players, credit cards are the easiest and fastest way to deposit, but they can also present problems at times as transactions can be declined. Because of the UIGEA, American banks are not permitted to make transactions with known offshore gaming operators. With that said, credit cards are one of the forms of payment that can be blocked which means those users would need to find a different deposit method (learn more below) or go with a different poker site entirely.

Credit cards offer major convenience when they work however that comes with a cost. Most poker rooms will charge up to 5% for making a transaction. That is because it costs them money to be able to get your credit card transactions to go through. It's not the easiest thing to do with the UIGEA making life difficult but they spend the money so that you can play with ease. They need to re-coup that money spent in order to make that possible.

Wire Transfers / Money Transfers - A fast and efficient way to transfer money an online poker account is through a wire transfer. This can be conducted at a huge number of different physical stations around the United States that can wire money such as Western Union or MoneyGram. Chances are that a wiring station is within 10 minutes of where you live. Players from the U.S. often opt for this method when credit cards fail because of it's 100% success rate plus it allows them to fund the transfer a number of different ways including credit cards, debit cards, and cash. Plus, some services operate online to where you won't even need to leave your home (if funding with credit/debit card).

The fees that come along with wiring money can vary due to which service you use. Unlike with credit cards where the poker room charges you a fee, the fees for wire transfers are usually charged by the service. The poker site may charge you the fee they had to pay to receive your transfer which is to be expected. Be sure to research the different wire transfer companies before going with one or the other. The cashier at the poker site you choose should have plenty of info about the process and fees.

Electronic Wallets - Common referred to as an e-wallet, this method is similar to a wire transfer however there is no physical location to visit and therefore cash can not be sent to fund your account. Also, instead of making an exact deposit which can still be done, you can deposit a lump sum of money and then fund your poker account as you wish. The best example of an e-wallet would be something like PayPal however PayPal will not make gaming transactions for those living in the U.S. With that said, these e-wallets go under names you may not have heard of before but they can be trusted. You will need to sign up for an account and go through some verification protocols before you can fully use these however it is only to ensure your security.

Fees for using e-wallets vary from e-wallet to e-wallet. None of the e-wallets charge a few for signing up for a new account however some (primarily those known for gambling) charge for deposits while others may charge you a nominal fee for getting money out of your account. These service fees can be upwards of 5% which is no worse than using a credit card to make a direct deposit into a site.

Money Orders + Cashier's/Personal Checks - While not as fancy as some of the other deposit methods we have talked about, a money order or a cashier's check is every bit as effective however it does take a bit longer for the site to receive and then process. Sending a money order or check to an online poker site is just like the process of making any other payment with either type. Once you have obtained the draft/certificate/money order, it is mailed to the receiving address of whatever site you choose, where it will be processed and validated. Once processed and cleared, you will be able to play. The poker room's cashier will give you all the information you need for sending money to them through the mail. However, do know that not all sites take this form of payment and even fewer accept personal checks as most require guaranteed funds.

You should not be charged many fees for this deposit method other than paying for the money order or cashier's check. Plus, you will need to affix the proper postage to ensure that your payment arrives at it's destination. If a site charges money for depositing your check/money order, find a new site.

Prepaid Cards - A prepaid card works just like a credit card deposit would except these usually have to be purchased at a physical retailer. These cards are loaded with a set amount of funds, which players can then choose to deposit all or just a portion of what is credited. Prepaid cards can be purchased with cash and provide for instant transfer to poker sites accepting players from the U.S. Think of using a prepaid card as an e-wallet with a physical location and know that some of these prepaid cards have online functions as well. Prepaid cards are completely safe especially when bought in person with cash... one of the primary reasons why players love using them.

Fees with using prepaid cards should be nominal. Generally the only charge is to purchase the card which should be under $5 and that is if it is reloadable. If you get the card for free plus the amount you load it for, you may experience fees when transferring funds from it as the company that backs the card has to make money somewhere.

Recommended Poker Rooms With Easy Deposits For USA Players

If you are looking to play online poker at Bovada, there are several deposit outlets that can be arranged. The first is through the use of a VISA card. USA players can deposit with a VISA, and if it's accepted, can get started right away. Unfortunately, neither MasterCard nor American Express are accepted here. Other methods of depositing at Bovada include Rapid Transfer, which is a form of a wire transfer which the cashier will provide all the instructions needed to complete. Bovada offers two forms of wire transfer so you have flexibility in which one you choose. Also, we can't forget the 100% to $1,000 deposit bonus that Bovada gives to all new poker players making the first deposit. This really helps boost bankroll as players get the feel of the site, and play more for bigger stakes.

BetOnline Poker offer players a number of ways for players in the U.S. to fund their poker accounts. Any VISA-branded or American Express card will be able to get the job done. And, BetOnline doesn't advertise MasterCard however we know that they will accept it after a player has established a reputation with the site... meaning that a player isn't going to do something dumb that would compromise their payment processor. Of course, using a wire transfer or money order are also very solid options for depositing for which the cashier will provide all the instructions needed. From time to time, BetOnline offers some prepaid cards but one thing that never changes is their lifetime 15%-25% reload bonus good for up to $900 on each deposit. The match amount depends on if you use credit card or another method.

Complete List Of Real-Money Online Poker Rooms

USA? Poker Room / Play Now Deposit Bonus Best Method Full Site Reviews
YES Bovada Poker - Play Now 100% / $1,000 Credit Cards - VISA only Bovada Poker Review
YES BetOnline Poker - Play Now 25% / $900 CC - American Express BetOnline Poker Review
YES 5Dimes Poker - Play Now 50% / $200 Credit Cards - VISA 5Dimes Poker Review
YES Sportsbetting.ag - Play Now 25% / $900 CC or Wire Transfer Sportsbetting Poker Review
NO Bet365 Poker - Play Now 200% / $1,000 Credit Cards / NETeller Bet365 Poker Review

BetOnline Is Legal For All U.S. Players