RBC or TD Visa Card Blocked / Declined For Poker Deposits? This Article Shows You The Different Options Available For Canadians Looking To Make Poker Deposits – And Lists The Easiest Sites To Deposit At.
888 Poker Deposit Methods – Credit And Bank Card Deposits. This is the easiest way of depositing at 888, with major brands accepted. While I would recommend getting yourself an eWallet (see below), most players do just use their cards. Mastercard, Visa and more are accepted and give you access to the real money games almost instantly. Visa debit cards are accepted at Bovada Poker and can be used to instantly fund accounts. There is a minimum deposit of $50 and all transactions are made in US dollars. Deposits made with Visa debit cards are processed instantly. Visa Debit Deposits. Making deposits with Visa debit cards is easy.
RBC and TD Bank (among other banks) have recently been declining a lot of poker (well, all gambling) deposits, citing 'security concerns'. The good news is that there are plenty of straight-forward ways for you to safely deposit at online poker sites – many of them provide you extra speed and security compared to using your Visa card.
Cards are still the top choice of most players, so I'll cover those first. Next, while some of the popular ‘eWallet' services available to Canadians have pulled out - there are still some options here with InstaDebit being the biggest of those still available. Interac is reliable and quick, and does work from all of the banks - as does iDebit. Money transfer options are another reliable option, which uses the big global wiring services like Western Union or MoneyGram. A new addition to the list (for Bodog and the offshore US friendly sites which welcome Canadians) is Bitcoin, which has become very easy to use.
EASY GAMES |
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BIGGEST SITE |
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CANADA ONLY |
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Canada Poker Deposit Methods – Credit / Bank Cards + Notes On TD Visa Declines
Both Visa and MasterCard are accepted at all poker sites nowadays. Most players can still deposit using their with no problems – and this is the fastest way to get money onto poker sites.
Unfortunately, 'security concerns' mean that TD and RBS Visa cards and some other banks too are sometimes declined. As usual it is a payment processing game of cat-and-mouse (or maybe Poker?) between the banks and the sites. There is no legally binding reason for these declines – just bank policy to make extra sure that they are not breaking the UIGEA laws from the US.
If you insist on cards, then getting one from another bank will do the trick. You can also buy prepaid Visa cards, I advise you to check with your poker site which are working before you buy.
My main recommendation is simply to use your card to fund one of the electronic wallets – and then deposit on the poker sites from there, or use Interac, which takes money from exactly the same bank account without the risk of a block!
Canadian Poker Site Deposit Methods – eWallets, The Perfect Work-Around
An eWallet is simply an intermediary payment service which sits between your bank and merchants on the web. PayPal is the best known - though unfortunately no longer supports Canadian players for gambling deposits. Alternatives include Click2Pay, InstaDebit and EntroPay (which is a virtual Visa card) all of which are working well at the time of writing. One of the biggest brands, Moneybookers (Skrill) have recently pulled out of the CA area for gambling transactions - following Neteller, which pulled out some time ago.
Many players use these to keep a portion of their poker bankroll flexible. When a bonus offer comes in from a leading site, you can take advantage right away, then withdraw your profits back into the wallet once done. These services mean that no gambling transactions appear on your bank statements, and can be used for general purchases too... eWallets can also keep your poker bankroll safely out of the hands of your wife (or husband!!).
Here are my recommendations:
#1 Click2Pay: This is a popular service and it comes with a debit card that allows you to use the cash from your account. It works with all the major sites including PokerStars, and some iPoker Network sites.
#2 InstaDebit This is the one of the best known eWallets, the charges are higher than at some others (for withdrawals rather than deposits), though you do get the flexibility to use this at millions of online merchants. This one works great with the awesome 888Poker.
Canadian Poker Site Deposits - Interac Poker Deposits
There is something uniquely Canadian about Interac. This payment method is not only safe and secure (you have to log on and send funds via e-mail from your bank account, rather than give anyone card or banking info), it is run by a non-profit.
The best thing about Interac is that it is 100% reliable. All of the major banks support this and so do the major sites. The only (small) downside is that this is a slightly convoluted process - you need to start the deposit at the poker site, then go to your bank to initiate, then go back to the poker site. Considering how reliable Interac is, this is a small price to pay. You can find out more in this detailed article on Interac Poker Deposits.
Canadian Poker Deposit Options – Bank Transfers
This is not just for the high-rollers, in fact there are some bank transfer options available to Canadian players which are perfect for smaller stakes players. If you want to make bigger ($5k+) transfers, then I recommend you speak with the support staff at your poker site first. You never know, they might be able to offer you a special deal or bonus!
Here are the types of bank transfer deposit method currently available to Canadian players:
#1 – Interac: I covered this above, this is super-reliable, and all of the main sites will support it (you might need to speak to them first, as not all sites call it Interac (can be listed as local bank transfer or even iDebit)
#2 – InstaDebit: This one works like a cross between an eWallet and an eCheck. The key advantages are an instant transfer between your bank and the poker site, plus added security as no personal data needs to be transferred with the payment. This one is recommended for use at PokerStars / Full Tilt.
#3 – Western Union / MoneyGram: I look at these as standby methods, since you need to physically take the cash to a branch office (though WU now have SpeedPay to avoid this step too). Neither company support gambling deposits, meaning you'll be wiring to an individual who will collect on behalf of the poker room. This is reliable and trusted - a popular method south of the border.
You should ask about direct wires even for small amounts, this will depend on your bank more than anything else - though the support staff at all of the top 5 sites will know the latest (they would not be top 5 sites without your deposits after all!).
Canadian Poker Deposit Options - Bitcoin
Technology has moved on and Bitcoin is not a mainstream deposit option. Setting up a wallet at one of the online services like blockchain.info is no harder than setting up a PayPal account. These work by using strings of letters and numbers as the Id or the receiver. You'll go to a poker site, generate a receiver Id, and then go to your Bitcoin wallet to send it. More and more poker rooms are embracing BTC - and this has the added advantage of being completely out of sight for any authorities / tax people!.
The sites which welcome Bitcoin are mostly the offshore US friendly operators (think ACR Poker and BetOnline). NetBet on the iPoker Network do accept these now.
Bitcoin deposits are becoming more popular, you can find out more in my detailed Guide to Bitcoin Poker Deposits.
Canadian Poker Deposit Options – Mark's Conclusion + The Best Sites For Easy Deposits And Speedy Cash-outs
My conclusion is clear, when the banks start to decline transactions - poker fans will always find a way to get money on board. Intrac, InstaDebit and prepaid cards are the easiest options - though not the only ones.
When it comes to speed and simplicity (as well as big-brand trust) I have one strong recommendation:
888 Poker Visa Debit Cards
Fastest And Smoothest CA Deposits - 888 Poker:
Not only will 888 Poker handle deposits and withdraws smoothly - they are so confident you'll like their poker room that all new players get up to $88 free (no deposit or credit card info needed) to try out the games.
If you like what you find, the 100% welcome matched bonus can be claimed at any point down the line. Soft games, BLAST! and SNAP! poker variations, tons of guaranteed tournaments and fishy (soft) games all combine to make 888 my go-to site and an easy top rec for Canadian readers.
Check out 888Poker.com now to see those fishy games and grab your $88 new player bonus!
More Articles Covering Poker Site Deposits
- US Poker Deposits Guide (Still not easy, but there are now some reliable methods getting established)
888 Poker Visa Debit Card
- PayPal Poker Sites Guide(not for Canadian's I'm afraid)
- Main Poker Site Deposits Page With Links To Articles On Individual Sites + Other Methods
- Best Interac Poker Sites 2020
- MasterCard Poker Sites
The following US poker sites accept VISA gift card deposits. To improve the odds of making a successful deposit, always choose a card that's eligible for both online and international purchases.
What do these sites have in common?
- All accept gift cards.
- All have fast cashout times.
- All run 24/7 customer support.
Top US Poker Sites in 2020 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Site | Rating | Bonus | Visit |
1. | 8.45Review | 100%up to$1,000 | Play Now | |
2. | 7.75Review | 100%up to$2,500 | Play Now |
Which Gift Cards to Use?
All real-money US poker sites accept VISA gift cards. In case your credit card fails to work - or you have no credit card - one of the best ways to deposit money to US poker sites is to use a pre-paid gift card. Why?
- You can buy them everywhere - supermarkets, retail stores, gas stations, banks... and even online.
- You'll have the money on your player account instantly after making the deposit.
- When you choose the right kind of a VISA gift card, you'll have a high success rate with your deposits (which is not self-evident in today's US online poker world).
Do VISA Gift Cards Work for Online Poker?
An easy way for US poker players to deposit money into a poker site is to use a gift card or a pre-paid debit card. If you've had problems with depositing money before, these cards may be your solution. All US poker sites may not accept the same types of cards, but in general, if a card is accepted at one US poker site, it's likely to be accepted at other sites too. Once you find a working gift card type, you'll likely be able to use it on all of the sites.
Do Gift Cards Work?
Yes, they're likely to work, but under following conditions:
- The card needs to be eligible for international purchases.
- It also needs to be eligible for online purchases.
Which Gift Card Works the Best?
We have such a variety of gift cards available that listing them here would be tedious. However, I've listed VISA gift cards that have recently worked well for US poker players in early 2014. (Note: there's only one card left since the majority of VISA gift cards have stopped working):
- NetSpend Card:
To use Netspend for online poker, go to Netspend.com to see their locations (they're easy to find - most gas stations have them), then visit your local retailer to deposit money to the card. They will instruct you further. (Usually you're required to take a picture of your ID to confirm the account.)
Note: In late 2013, I received an e-mail from Carbon Poker's customer support that said: 'If you are getting a visa gift card please bear in mind we do not accept Wal-Mart gift-card, TARGET gift cards, Vanilla Visa, Visa 2GO and Green Dot because those cards do not allow purchases to merchants outside of the U.S. anymore.'
So that's my list of the best US online poker gift cards, pre-paid debit cards and alike, although tens of other cards are just as likely to work. Stick to the one that works at your site.
Additionally, once you've decided which online poker site to play at, you could e-mail the support and ask which types of online poker gift cards they recommend - not all of them name any cards specifically, but some of them do.
Both Visa and MasterCard are accepted at all poker sites nowadays. Most players can still deposit using their with no problems – and this is the fastest way to get money onto poker sites.
Unfortunately, 'security concerns' mean that TD and RBS Visa cards and some other banks too are sometimes declined. As usual it is a payment processing game of cat-and-mouse (or maybe Poker?) between the banks and the sites. There is no legally binding reason for these declines – just bank policy to make extra sure that they are not breaking the UIGEA laws from the US.
If you insist on cards, then getting one from another bank will do the trick. You can also buy prepaid Visa cards, I advise you to check with your poker site which are working before you buy.
My main recommendation is simply to use your card to fund one of the electronic wallets – and then deposit on the poker sites from there, or use Interac, which takes money from exactly the same bank account without the risk of a block!
Canadian Poker Site Deposit Methods – eWallets, The Perfect Work-Around
An eWallet is simply an intermediary payment service which sits between your bank and merchants on the web. PayPal is the best known - though unfortunately no longer supports Canadian players for gambling deposits. Alternatives include Click2Pay, InstaDebit and EntroPay (which is a virtual Visa card) all of which are working well at the time of writing. One of the biggest brands, Moneybookers (Skrill) have recently pulled out of the CA area for gambling transactions - following Neteller, which pulled out some time ago.
Many players use these to keep a portion of their poker bankroll flexible. When a bonus offer comes in from a leading site, you can take advantage right away, then withdraw your profits back into the wallet once done. These services mean that no gambling transactions appear on your bank statements, and can be used for general purchases too... eWallets can also keep your poker bankroll safely out of the hands of your wife (or husband!!).
Here are my recommendations:
#1 Click2Pay: This is a popular service and it comes with a debit card that allows you to use the cash from your account. It works with all the major sites including PokerStars, and some iPoker Network sites.
#2 InstaDebit This is the one of the best known eWallets, the charges are higher than at some others (for withdrawals rather than deposits), though you do get the flexibility to use this at millions of online merchants. This one works great with the awesome 888Poker.
Canadian Poker Site Deposits - Interac Poker Deposits
There is something uniquely Canadian about Interac. This payment method is not only safe and secure (you have to log on and send funds via e-mail from your bank account, rather than give anyone card or banking info), it is run by a non-profit.
The best thing about Interac is that it is 100% reliable. All of the major banks support this and so do the major sites. The only (small) downside is that this is a slightly convoluted process - you need to start the deposit at the poker site, then go to your bank to initiate, then go back to the poker site. Considering how reliable Interac is, this is a small price to pay. You can find out more in this detailed article on Interac Poker Deposits.
Canadian Poker Deposit Options – Bank Transfers
This is not just for the high-rollers, in fact there are some bank transfer options available to Canadian players which are perfect for smaller stakes players. If you want to make bigger ($5k+) transfers, then I recommend you speak with the support staff at your poker site first. You never know, they might be able to offer you a special deal or bonus!
Here are the types of bank transfer deposit method currently available to Canadian players:
#1 – Interac: I covered this above, this is super-reliable, and all of the main sites will support it (you might need to speak to them first, as not all sites call it Interac (can be listed as local bank transfer or even iDebit)
#2 – InstaDebit: This one works like a cross between an eWallet and an eCheck. The key advantages are an instant transfer between your bank and the poker site, plus added security as no personal data needs to be transferred with the payment. This one is recommended for use at PokerStars / Full Tilt.
#3 – Western Union / MoneyGram: I look at these as standby methods, since you need to physically take the cash to a branch office (though WU now have SpeedPay to avoid this step too). Neither company support gambling deposits, meaning you'll be wiring to an individual who will collect on behalf of the poker room. This is reliable and trusted - a popular method south of the border.
You should ask about direct wires even for small amounts, this will depend on your bank more than anything else - though the support staff at all of the top 5 sites will know the latest (they would not be top 5 sites without your deposits after all!).
Canadian Poker Deposit Options - Bitcoin
Technology has moved on and Bitcoin is not a mainstream deposit option. Setting up a wallet at one of the online services like blockchain.info is no harder than setting up a PayPal account. These work by using strings of letters and numbers as the Id or the receiver. You'll go to a poker site, generate a receiver Id, and then go to your Bitcoin wallet to send it. More and more poker rooms are embracing BTC - and this has the added advantage of being completely out of sight for any authorities / tax people!.
The sites which welcome Bitcoin are mostly the offshore US friendly operators (think ACR Poker and BetOnline). NetBet on the iPoker Network do accept these now.
Bitcoin deposits are becoming more popular, you can find out more in my detailed Guide to Bitcoin Poker Deposits.
Canadian Poker Deposit Options – Mark's Conclusion + The Best Sites For Easy Deposits And Speedy Cash-outs
My conclusion is clear, when the banks start to decline transactions - poker fans will always find a way to get money on board. Intrac, InstaDebit and prepaid cards are the easiest options - though not the only ones.
When it comes to speed and simplicity (as well as big-brand trust) I have one strong recommendation:
888 Poker Visa Debit Cards
Fastest And Smoothest CA Deposits - 888 Poker:
Not only will 888 Poker handle deposits and withdraws smoothly - they are so confident you'll like their poker room that all new players get up to $88 free (no deposit or credit card info needed) to try out the games.
If you like what you find, the 100% welcome matched bonus can be claimed at any point down the line. Soft games, BLAST! and SNAP! poker variations, tons of guaranteed tournaments and fishy (soft) games all combine to make 888 my go-to site and an easy top rec for Canadian readers.
Check out 888Poker.com now to see those fishy games and grab your $88 new player bonus!
More Articles Covering Poker Site Deposits
- US Poker Deposits Guide (Still not easy, but there are now some reliable methods getting established)
888 Poker Visa Debit Card
- PayPal Poker Sites Guide(not for Canadian's I'm afraid)
- Main Poker Site Deposits Page With Links To Articles On Individual Sites + Other Methods
- Best Interac Poker Sites 2020
- MasterCard Poker Sites
The following US poker sites accept VISA gift card deposits. To improve the odds of making a successful deposit, always choose a card that's eligible for both online and international purchases.
What do these sites have in common?
- All accept gift cards.
- All have fast cashout times.
- All run 24/7 customer support.
Top US Poker Sites in 2020 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Site | Rating | Bonus | Visit |
1. | 8.45Review | 100%up to$1,000 | Play Now | |
2. | 7.75Review | 100%up to$2,500 | Play Now |
Which Gift Cards to Use?
All real-money US poker sites accept VISA gift cards. In case your credit card fails to work - or you have no credit card - one of the best ways to deposit money to US poker sites is to use a pre-paid gift card. Why?
- You can buy them everywhere - supermarkets, retail stores, gas stations, banks... and even online.
- You'll have the money on your player account instantly after making the deposit.
- When you choose the right kind of a VISA gift card, you'll have a high success rate with your deposits (which is not self-evident in today's US online poker world).
Do VISA Gift Cards Work for Online Poker?
An easy way for US poker players to deposit money into a poker site is to use a gift card or a pre-paid debit card. If you've had problems with depositing money before, these cards may be your solution. All US poker sites may not accept the same types of cards, but in general, if a card is accepted at one US poker site, it's likely to be accepted at other sites too. Once you find a working gift card type, you'll likely be able to use it on all of the sites.
Do Gift Cards Work?
Yes, they're likely to work, but under following conditions:
- The card needs to be eligible for international purchases.
- It also needs to be eligible for online purchases.
Which Gift Card Works the Best?
We have such a variety of gift cards available that listing them here would be tedious. However, I've listed VISA gift cards that have recently worked well for US poker players in early 2014. (Note: there's only one card left since the majority of VISA gift cards have stopped working):
- NetSpend Card:
To use Netspend for online poker, go to Netspend.com to see their locations (they're easy to find - most gas stations have them), then visit your local retailer to deposit money to the card. They will instruct you further. (Usually you're required to take a picture of your ID to confirm the account.)
Note: In late 2013, I received an e-mail from Carbon Poker's customer support that said: 'If you are getting a visa gift card please bear in mind we do not accept Wal-Mart gift-card, TARGET gift cards, Vanilla Visa, Visa 2GO and Green Dot because those cards do not allow purchases to merchants outside of the U.S. anymore.'
So that's my list of the best US online poker gift cards, pre-paid debit cards and alike, although tens of other cards are just as likely to work. Stick to the one that works at your site.
Additionally, once you've decided which online poker site to play at, you could e-mail the support and ask which types of online poker gift cards they recommend - not all of them name any cards specifically, but some of them do.
Deposit Fees
Remember to take possible credit card deposit fees into account. For example, the minimum deposit to BetOnline Poker is $20 and they take a 6% fee out of each credit card deposit. Therefore you need to deposit at least $20 + 6% to your credit, gift card or debit card in order to transfer money to your online poker account.