How can US players deposit money into poker sites? How can I withdraw?

US Player Deposit Methods

If you're an online poker player in the United States, the biggest hurdle you may face is simply getting money on and off of your favorite poker site. Before the UIGEA it was a breeze, as you could use NETeller to transfer money right from your bank account to the poker site instantly, and also use it for quick and secure withdrawals. Now however, there are fewer deposit options than ever before, and it is also harder to get your money off of the site and back into your pocket. This article will look at various US player deposit methods, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

Credit Card Payments

Many online poker sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker have credit cards on their list of approved deposit methods for US players. Credit cards are extremely convenient, as they are instant transfers and the poker site picks up all the fees so you aren't charged for the service. Most poker sites accept Visa and MasterCard -- American Express is not widely accepted. If you can use them, credit cards are definitely your best option when it comes to depositing, but there are a few restrictions.

First of all, it's a legal grey area for the credit card companies to process transactions from US players to online poker sites. Because of the UIGEA, the companies are supposed to monitor all transactions and block any payments that are determined to be headed to a poker site. However, it's hard to enforce this because the poker sites have various payment processors so it's hard for the credit card companies to find out if the money is going to a poker room or not. As a result of this, most credit card transactions will still go through depending on your bank and card. The only way to find out is to try.

One other issue with credit cards is that players can and should be hesitant before providing their credit card number to an offshore poker site. Although all of the reputable sites (PokerStars, Full Tilt, Cake Poker, etc) are safe and have never had an issue with stealing money, there are a ton of fly-by-night poker sites that I wouldn't feel comfortable with sharing my financial information. If you decide to play at a lesser known site, make sure to research them to see if they're legit before depositing money.

ECheck Deposits

EChecks are payments that PokerStars widely accepts, and Full Tilt and Absolute are trying to phase in to their cashiers. These payments work exactly like writing a real check, and are instant transfers from your checking account to the poker site. To make an ECheck deposit, you have to go to the poker site's cashier, choose ECheck, then enter the routing number and account number for your checking account at your bank. This information is listed on the bottom of your paper checks, so as long as you have a checkbook it is info that is easily accessible.

At PokerStars, Full Tilt, and Absolute Poker, EChecks are instant and have no fees associated with them. However, like I mentioned before, Full Tilt and Absolute have just started phasing in ECheck deposits, so not all players have the option yet. To find out if you can use them, log into your cashier at either site and see if the option is there to deposit. PokerStars allows ECheck deposits for all players.

Western Union

Western Union is another payment option for USA players, and is actually a money transfer service that's been in existence for over 150 years. Most poker sites accept Western Union transfers, and these are quick transfers that usually take an hour or two to be confirmed by the poker site. To make a WU deposit, you have to first go to your poker site and get the WU payment details. They'll give you a name and address to send money to. Then, you have to go to your local WU store or kiosk and give them the name and address, plus pay them the amount of money you want to send.

Advantages of WU deposits for US players are that you don't actually have to provide the poker sites with any financial info; you're only giving money to Western Union which is a very trusted service. One big drawback for this deposit method is the fees. They charge you to use their service, and it can be up to 20% in my experiences.

Online E-Wallets

One option that used to be really popular was the e-wallet. Players could set up accounts with sites like NETeller, then transfer funds from their bank account to the poker site, and vice versa. However, the UIGEA has really limited this option, and most e-wallet sites, like NETeller and Click2Pay, have pulled out of the US market. Currently there are few, if any, e-wallets that still work for USA players.

Withdrawing Money to the USA

After you finally get money onto the poker site, you want to be sure you can also withdraw it after doubling up a few times. Basically, there are only two options for withdrawing to the US at this time: checks and money orders. For each option, you just have to request a cash-out from the poker site, and they'll mail you your check or money order within a month or two. The only restrictions on this are that usually you can only request one check per week or month depending on the site.

Bank wires are normally used for large withdrawals, and are supported by most USA friendly poker sites. To receive a bank wire withdrawal you'll have to supply the poker site with information about your account such as the routing number, account number, and SWIFT code. Each transfer usually has roughly a $30 processing fee by the poker site and potential additional fees by your bank.

Michael Wittmeyer is the owner of PokerSite.org, one of the best poker sites online for finding quality poker information. PokerSite.org provides players with an online poker guide, as well as an exclusive poker bonus at most online cardrooms.