Credit and Debit Cards - A popular casino payment method
Credit cards are electronic payment tools that enable users to pay for transactions and transfer funds. Supported by millions of physical establishments and online merchants all over the world, credit cards have become the de facto payment system for performing transactions online and the real world.
Debit cards can be used in pretty much the same manner as credit cards. The key difference is that while credit cards enable users to spend on credit, debit cards rely on funds that are already present in an associated bank account. Credit card use also entails interest fees for every month of the payment term.
Debit card and credit cards are supported by most online casinos that cater to the worldwide market. The most commonly supported brands are Visa and MasterCard, which are the two most widely used credit card companies in the world. Both companies offer a variety of credit cards and debit cards with different spending limits
How Does a Credit / Debit Card Work?
When you use credit cards, you are, in effect, availing of a short term loan. The full amount that you spend will be divided into 12, 24, or 36 months, or however long the terms of payment are. You will also be required to pay interest every month for as long as the full amount is unpaid.
Credit card users do have the option to pay the "loaned" amount in full at any time during the payment term. You may also pay more than the minimum amount required every month if you wish. In fact, paying more than the minimum amount is recommended, as this will enable you to pay off the balance of your loan much sooner, and reduce the total of interest fees that you will pay.
Conversely, you generally won't want to have your payments go beyond the expected payment term. This will result in you having to pay late payment and more interest fees. For transactions that cost £100 for example, you could end up having to pay twice that–or more–if you don’t make payment on time.
Debit card can be seen as a "safer" and more cost-effective alternative than credit cards, because they are prepaid. The funds in debit card transactions are drawn from a linked bank account, which means that you are simply spending money that you already have. Because there are no interest or late payment fees, debit cards are more cost-effective casino depositing methods in the long run.
| Credit / Debit Card Facts | |
|---|---|
| Type | Credit card / Debit card |
| Deposits | Yes |
| Withdrawals | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | 3% or minimum of £2.99 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Free |
| Typical Casino Limits | Minimum Deposit: £5, Maximum Deposit: £99,999, Minimum Withdrawal: £5, Maximum Withdrawal: £55,000 (Visa), £36,000 (MasterCard) |
How to Apply For A Credit / Debit Card
You may be eligible for a credit card or debit card if you conform to the following requirements:
- Aged 18 years old or older
- Have a regular income
- Are not currently declared bankrupt
- Do not have county court judgments
- Are not subject to an individual voluntary agreement
- Haven’t already applied for and been declined a card in the last 30 days
If you conform to the above requirements, you can apply for a credit card or debit card online, via phone, or in person. The requirements vary from provider to provider, but you will generally be required to provide the following:
- Current address
- Previous address if you have moved in the past three years
- Phone number and email address
- Annual income (before tax)
- Main bank account number and sort code
- Details for previous credit or store card, if you wish to make a balance transfer
Funding Your Credit / Debit Card Account / Making A Transfer to A Casino Account
Because credit cards enable you to make payments or deposits on credit, there is no need to prefund a card before you can use it to make a deposit at an online casino.
Debit cards do not require prefunding either as the funds will be drawn from your linked bank account. However, you do have to make sure that your bank account balance is sufficient to cover any online casino deposits you wish to make.
This is the process for depositing into an online casino account via a credit card or debit card:
- Go to the casino’s "deposits" page.
- Select "credit card" or "debit card" as the deposit method.
- Provide your credit card or debit card details.
- Specify the amount you wish to deposit.
- Confirm the transaction.
Most casinos that cater to players do not charge fees for credit card deposits. However, many banks consider such deposits as cash advances, so you may have to pay a small fee.
Some casinos do impose limits on the amounts that players may deposit into their online casino accounts via credit card or debit card. Many casinos require a minimum deposit of £5 and a maximum deposit of £99,999 if these methods are used.
Making a Withdrawal From A Credit / Debit Card
If you wish to withdraw your winnings and bonuses from your online casino account into your credit card account, you will first have to make sure that the casino allows such transactions. If so, the process is as follows:
- Go to the casino’s "cash out" page.
- Select "credit card" or "debit card" as the withdrawal method.
- Choose your credit card or debit card.
- Provide your credit card or debit card details.
- Specify the amount you wish to withdraw.
- Confirm the transaction.
There are some things to keep in mind if you intend to withdraw from an online casino account via credit card or debit card.
Firstly, some casinos may not allow credit card/debit card withdrawals even though they allow you to use them as deposit methods. If that is the case, you will have to withdraw your winnings via a bank transfer to your bank account.
Secondly, casinos that do allow credit card deposits and withdrawals may require you to withdraw only to the same credit card account from which you made the deposit.
Many casinos also implement a policy wherein you may only withdraw winnings up to the amount that you have deposited in the first place. If you deposited £100 for instance, you may only withdraw £100 into your credit card account. In order to withdraw the rest of the funds from your online casino account, you will have to request for a bank transfer.
Finally, casinos generally have limits on the amount that you are allowed to withdraw via credit card. Minimum withdrawals are typically £5, while maximum withdrawals are £55,000 for Visa, and £36,000 for MasterCard.
Security and Privacy of Your Personal Information
Most reputable credit cards are issued by established banking systems with industry standard security measures in place. State-of-the-art 128-bit SSL security systems are standard with most established credit card brands, which offer the highest level of security. Furthermore, most credit card companies offer "zero liability" guarantees, which offer added protection against unauthorized transactions.
Fee Summary
Credit cards and debit cards are usually provided for free, if you conform to the somewhat stringent qualifying requirements (see the previous section on "How to apply for a credit/debit card" for details.
If you wish to make a deposit into an online casino account, you may have to pay a 3% fee or a minimum of £2.99. Withdrawals from an online casino account into a debit card account are usually free.
Loyalty program
Most established credit cards provide some type of loyalty program wherein you can raise your spending limits the more you use your card. Other rewards offers may also be available from time to time.
Customer Service
Most major credit card companies have a 24-hour customer service system in place. Customer service representatives can generally be reached via online contact forms on the company website, via email, or by phone.