Online Casino Payment Methods
As an online player, particularly from the US, you may have found it increasingly difficult to fund your casino account. While there are a variety of payment options available at most casinos, you may have noticed over the years that the use of credit cards has been less than successful. As more banks continued to deny transactions for US players using credit cards, alternative methods offered were few and far between. Thus, players were reduced to playing at a limited number of casinos.
Types of Payment Methods
Finding US friendly casinos that cater specifically to your needs has been a daunting challenge. Thus, you may have found payment options with this caveat: "Available to players outside North America." Or you may have discovered banking options that no longer exist such as Central Coins and FirePay; or options that are specifically geared toward European players such as Maestro, Solo, Delta Card, Payspark, EntroPay, GiroPay, Instadebit, PaySafeCard, NETeller, and Skrill Moneybookers .
Good News for Players from the US
In 2009, there was a surge in new casinos that were not only US friendly, but offered alternative payment methods. For example, Crazy Slots Casino emerged with a prepaid gift card payment option matching its sister casinos OnlineVegas Casino and GoCasino. This accounted for only three casinos where US players could fund their account without having to use a credit card. Good news continued to prevail as all Vegas Technology Casinos implemented the prepaid gift card option in February of 2010. This added another seven US casinos to the existing three; all offering a solid payment option.
Moreover, UseMyWallet, a third party method in which you could make deposits into your online casino account through various funding sources added more US friendly casinos to the mix including these RTG Casinos: Sloto Cash Casino , Bovada Casino and Silver Oak Casino . In fact, there are close to 40 US friendly casinos that now offer players the opportunity to fund their accounts without having to use credit cards.
Banks and Credit Cards
While credit cards are still used to fund casino accounts in places where gambling is legal, they have become a necessary evil nonetheless. When the sub-prime mortgage crisis affected the entire US economy, banks began to close ranks. They not only raised interest rates, but reduced credit lines. It didn't matter that credit card holders paid their bills on time; their need to ensure no additional revenue would be lost became their mantra. Thus, credit card holders witnessed a shift in lending practices that has caused a ripple effect today.
In the online casino world, the US government is continuing to seize online gambling accounts. One report speculated that "It may be that the government can obtain revenue from online gambling operators without regulating the industry." Whether or not this is true, efforts to repeal the UIGEA Law are on-going.
Prepaid Card Options for US Players
New casinos are being launched each month with banking methods that are specifically geared toward US players, namely, prepaid gift cards - the best way to deposit funds to your online casino account. Considering that online gambling is a multi-billion dollar business, it is apparent that casinos recognize the need to offer alternative methods of depositing and withdrawing funds - and they have come through in a big way for US players by incorporating prepaid cards as part of their funding source.
Players from the US can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy playing online casino games at best prepaid cards and UseMyWallet casinos.