- How Prepaid Cards Work
- How We Evaluate Prepaid Cards Casinos
- Prepaid Cards Casino Deposit
- Prepaid Cards Casino Withdrawal
- Prepaid Cards Pros and Cons
- Countries Which Use Prepaid Cards
- Using Prepaid Cards in Mobile Casino
- Prepaid Cards Casino Bonuses
- Prepaid Cards Casino Safety and Security
- Prepaid Cards Alternatives
- Prepaid Cards Casinos FAQ
| Updated: October 1, 2024Prepaid cards are one of the major payment solutions supported by the online casino industry. They are particularly liked by players on a budget but are suitable for many other types, as well. Prepaid cards offer a distinct set of advantages that may come in handy, depending on your needs and preferences. While there are many different services that fall under the prepaid category, they all share a distinct set of key features. Below, we go over everything that makes prepaid cards as popular as they are, as well as, the drawbacks that come from using this type of banking method.
How We Evaluate Prepaid Cards Casinos?
When you are looking at any online gambling website it is important to consider several factors before making the decision to join. These are vital to the overall experience and the enjoyment that you will have. Below, we list our metrics to judging any online casino and we recommend that you take a good look at them.
Security
Fees Transactions Accessibility Usage BonusesSecurity
One of the primary features that you should look out for when joining an online casino is the security that it offers. You will likely at some point be asked to provide proof of identity and that sensitive information should remain protected. Be sure that the operator is licensed by a trusted regulatory institution and abides by all the rules and laws enforced by it. It is the only way to be sure if a casino is a legitimate operation.
Fees
Another factor to take into consideration are the fees that you will be asked to pay or the lack thereof. Ideally, you will not pay anything when making a deposit with a prepaid card. However, every now and then, certain gambling websites will charge a commission on transactions. You should avoid such online casinos and look for those who will not take a good chunk of your deposit.
Transactions
Additionally, take a good look at the deposit methods supported by the online casino. After all, you want to make sure that your prepaid service of choice is available at that particular gambling website. It is all too common that a player opens an account only to find that their payment solution is not included.
Accessibility
This concerns mobile gamblers much more than desktop users, but it is still food for thought. Basically, the casino has to support the platform you play on, be it a smartphone or tablet, or alternatively, a different operating system. Regardless of the circumstances, you have to be sure that you can freely play at the particular gambling website no matter what.
Usage
Of course, one should take into account how well the casino runs when loaded onto your device. If it is slow and the games stutter, perhaps it is in your best interest to look at a different gambling website. The best thing about it is that there are always more options.
Bonuses
Finally, take a good hard look at the bonuses offered by the online casino. They are an essential part of online gambling and can make or break the experience. Be sure to read the conditions to understand exactly what you are getting into so that you do not make any mistakes while meeting the wagering requirement.
Prepaid Cards Casino Deposit
Limits Fees Processing TimesLimits
When using a prepaid card, you will likely have to endure some stringent limits. While each different prepaid service has its own specific limits, a common feature of most is that the transactions are capped at small sums when compared with other payment solutions. For example, Paysafecard PINs can hold up to $100 each and you can string up to 10 of them for a maximum deposit of $1,000. Something similar is true for other prepaid methods, as well. Therefore, you will likely be limited in how much you can deposit at once.
Fees
As far as fees are concerned, most online casinos do not charge a commission when using a prepaid service. Therefore, you will not have to surrender part of your deposit to the gambling website. Moreover, using a prepaid card is often free and there is no fee when making transactions, broadly speaking. There is always the possibility for fees to be introduced so be sure to check with the service provider first.
Processing Times
When you use a prepaid card one the primary benefits that you will enjoy is the speed of the transactions. Instant deposits are a hallmark feature of this payment method type and you will get to play as soon as you confirm your deposit. With prepaid cards, you will not experience any downtime as you would with other deposit options, such as Bank Transfers.
Prepaid Cards Casino Withdrawal
Limits Fees Processing TimesLimits
Since prepaid cards are not capable of processing withdrawals, you will have to resort to a different banking solutions. More specifically, most online casinos allow you to withdraw your winnings via Bank Transfer. As for how much you can actually cash in, that would depend on the gambling website in question.
Fees
With prepaid cards, you do not have the opportunity to cash in your winnings. Therefore, you need to use a Bank Transfer or another payment solution that the casino will allow. This can be free or a fee may be involved. However, this is decided by the gambling website itself and as a whole, it is entirely subjective.
Processing Times
As you may have heard, prepaid cards are not suitable for withdrawals. Bank Transfers are the standard way that players cash in their balance after making their deposit with a prepaid. When do that, it can take up to five business days for the transaction to clear once it is approved and issued by the casino.
Prepaid Cards Pros and Cons
When you use prepaid cards, you gain certain advantages but that does not mean that the service is not without its downsides. Below, we mention the most common pros and cons of using prepaid cards at online casinos.
Prepaid cards allow you to make instant deposits after only a few clicks. All you need to do is enter the card’s information when making the payment and it will be processed within seconds.
Prepaid cards most often lack the ability to process withdrawals at most online casinos. This means that when you wish to cash in your casino balance, you will need to resort to a different payment solution, most likely a Bank Transfer.
When using prepaid cards you gain the benefit of absolute anonymity. Since you are not required to enter any personal information, there is no risk of any becoming compromised.
Certain prepaid services have fees associated with them. While it is not unreasonable to pay a fee to use a service, the fees tip the scale and make the prepaid method unfavorable, considering all the other disadvantages.
It is relatively easy to acquire some form of prepaid card no matter where you are. Retail locations all around offer them and there is little to no cost associated with purchasing one.
It is often the case with prepaid cards that they are made to be used once and discarded. This means that whenever the balance of one card runs out, you will need to run back to a retail location and get a new one. Over time, this could become a drag.
Certain prepaid services are universally accepted in the online casino scene and you can join any gambling website with those payment methods.
Finally, the largest drawback of prepaid cards is that they often have low transaction limits. Paysafecard, for example, can only process up to $1,000 in a single deposit. While for many this may be more than enough, others who like to bet big will need a different payment method.
Countries Which Use Prepaid Cards in Online Casinos?
Prepaid cards are popular all over the world and gamblers are certainly fond of them. Certain countries, however, are much more inclined to use them over others. Below, we mention some of the countries which heavily utilize prepaids for the purposes of online gambling.
United Kingdom Canada Sweden Germany Norway FinlandUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom casino player base uses all manner of different payment solution, but prepaid services tend to be on the more popular side. There are multiple different prepaid solutions that are common for UK gamblers, including prepaid debit cards and Paysafecard, among others. Most, if not all, UK casino happily accept deposits from prepaid solutions and since they are available in the local Great Britain Pound, players get to avoid any potential exchange fees.
Canada
Canada is another country that enjoys great diversity where payment methods are concerned. Canadian players are often fond of services such as Paysafecard and Neosurf since they are so widely available. Both allow for instant deposits and are relatively cheap when compared with many other payment solutions. Both Paysafecard and Neosurf, as well as other prepaid methods, support the Canadian Dollar, making them excellent options for players of this country.
Sweden
The Swedes are usually fond of their online banking, but many are also inclined to use prepaid solutions once in a while. Online payments are easy in this country and the Swedish online casino scene has great support for prepaid options. Many of the available prepaid solutions supported the Swedish Krone, making banking easy and convenient. All in all, if you are located in Sweden, consider using a prepaid card.
Germany
Germany is another country which favors prepaid cards and there are multiple options for German gamblers to go about making a deposit. Paysafecard, Neosurf, ecoPayz and other services are all viable payment methods at German online casinos. It goes without saying that all three support the Euro and can be used at most gambling websites.
Norway
Much like Sweden, Norway also enjoys great support for online banking, however, prepaid methods are also much in demand. It is observed that Norwegian players have no issue in making their deposits with prepaid solutions, such as Paysafecard and prepaid Visa cards. As one can imagine, these are widely available and anyone can get their hands on a card. The prepaids available to the Norwegian casino scene all support the local currency and players are not subjected to exchange fees.
Finland
Finnish gambling websites are known for their versatility and support for a wide range of payment methods. Players from Finland have a lot of options at their disposal, yet a good deal of them seem to choose prepaid solutions over other more popular services. When you use a prepaid method at a Finnish online casino, you will enjoy instant deposits and possibly a bonus or two.
Prepaid Cards Casino Bonuses
Making a deposit at most online casinos is easy and convenient with prepaid cards. However, you can accomplish much more than that. Casino bonuses are a great way to boost your bankroll and you can claim them upon making deposits with prepaids. There are various promotions that you can benefit from in today’s online casino scene and below, we will mention the major types.
Deposit Bonuses Free Spins No Deposit Bonuses Loyalty PointsDeposit Bonuses
Deposit bonuses are the ones that you will experience most often. When you complete your deposit, the casino will match it up to a certain sum, giving you a nice boost that can last a long time, depending on the promotion and the sum you deposit.
Free Spins
Additionally, certain deposit bonuses also give you the opportunity to receive a certain number of free spins. These allow you to play slot game for free a number of times at a set bet value. The winnings are yours to keep but are given out in bonus funds.
No Deposit Bonuses
Of course, one cannot discount the no deposit promotions which provide you with value even without making a deposit. Granted, these are not as good value as the deposit bonuses but they can serve a purpose and you should take advantage of them whenever possible.
Loyalty Points
Then there are comp points to consider. Also referred to as loyalty points, these are earned by placing bets and making deposits, such as with prepaid cards. Comp points can either be traded for cash or bonuses, depending on the loyalty program.
Related Banking Methods
Prepaid Cards Alternatives for Online Casinos
Prepaid cards might be great for some players but others might feel that they are limited by certain aspects. A good thing about the online casino scene is that there are many banking solutions supported by the different websites and we as players have options on how to go about funding our bankrolls. Below, we mention some great alternatives to prepaid cards and you can read our reviews about all of them.
Skrill Neteller Credit Cards Bank Transfers InstaDebitSkrill
Skrill is an eWallet that is almost universally accepted in the online casino industry. Allowing you to maintain a separate balance from your bank account, Skrill is the perfect solution to high-traffic gamblers. Not only does it have great limits but it is also relatively inexpensive and also grants you a certain degree of privacy.
Neteller
Neteller is another excellent option to manage your bankroll at online casinos. It enjoys the same level of popularity as Skrill and you can use at the vast majority of online casinos. With Neteller, you can easily make payments to your casino balance and also withdraw with the fastest transaction speeds in the scene.
If online banking is more to your liking, be sure to take Trustly into account. This service processes online payments made from your bank account directly to your casino balance. Not only does it speed up your deposit, but it also serves to protect your banking information. Best of all, it is free to use.
Credit Cards
If you do not feel like setting up a different service to make payments to your online casino balance, consider using a credit card to that end. Credit cards are easy to use and convenient since anyone with a bank account has them. Moreover, they are also universally accepted and you will be hard-pressed to find a casino that does not take credit card deposits.
Bank Transfers
When all else fails, you can try to fund your casino balance via Bank Transfer. While slow and sometimes costly, Bank Transfers always get the job done and will offer you the largest transaction limits out there. Granted, not all online casinos accept deposits via Bank Transfer, but there are more than enough that do.
InstaDebit
InstaDebit is another popular online payment solution which connects to your bank account to perform transactions. Much like Trustly, InstaDebit allows you to make quick and easy transactions, saving you precious time that would otherwise be spent waiting. With InstaDebit, you will have an easy time managing your bankroll.