- How It Works
- Types of Prepaid Cards
- Prepaid Debit and Gift Cards
- Prepaid Virtual Cards
- Prepaid Vouchers
- Depositing Funds with Prepaid Cards
- Withdrawing Your Casino Earnings
- Fees
- Using Prepaid Cards on Mobile
- Prepaid Cards and Security
- Casino Games You Can Play
- Advantages of Prepaid Cards
- Disadvantages of Prepaid Cards
Luckily, such players are not entirely deprived of options. Prepaid cards pose as a rather practical alternative for casino mavens and are accepted by a growing number of online gambling operators. This type of casino payment method offers a good deal of advantages, including affordability, flexibility, and a higher level of control over one’s gambling spendings. In this article, we shall prime you about the different types of prepaid cards and how to use them for online gambling purposes.
Top Casinos with Prepaid Cards
How It Works
Since not everybody can afford to have a credit card, the system of prepaid cards is extremely useful and most of all, affordable. A prepaid card is a type of card that is preloaded with a specific amount of money its owner can use to purchase various products and services online or from landbased merchants.
It largely functions the same way credit or debit cards do but unlike them, a prepaid card is not connected to a specific bank account. Once a gambler exhausts the card’s entire balance, they may be able to reload it although this is not possible with all types of prepaid cards.
This feature of the method makes it perfect for players who want to insure themselves against the potential accumulation of debts, making it easier to call it quits. As a result, these cards give you a better control over your spendings and the risk of overspending is kept to the minimum.
There are various ways to obtain a prepaid card, depending on its type. Some prepaid cards come in the form of vouchers of different denominations that can be purchased either online or at a local retail store. Others, like the prepaid gift cards, for example, can be purchased at a landbased sales outlet but need to be activated online. Stick with us as we fill you in on the different prepaid card types below.
Types of Prepaid Cards to Use for Online Gambling Purposes
Gambling operators normally offer several types of prepaid-card solutions although there is no guarantee all of them will be simultaneously available at one and the same online casino. This group of payment methods includes prepaid debit cards, gift cards, virtual debit cards, and vouchers like those distributed by payment companies like Flexepin, Paysafecard, and Neosurf.
Prepaid Debit and Gift Cards
All major payment services corporations like Mastercard, Visa, and American Express offer prepaid debit cards, which pose as a rather useful budgeting tool for casino players who have not opened bank accounts. These payment solutions are usually accepted at most online casinos that work with cards of the above-listed brands.
You can obtain a prepaid debit card even if your credit history is not squeaky clean since no credit checks are performed in the application process. You are not even required to hold an account with a given banking institution to get one such card. All you have to do is apply for a prepaid debit card online and wait for it to get delivered so that you can activate it and set up your unique PIN code.
The great thing about this type of cards is that they are reloadable, allowing you to top yours up after its balance have been depleted. It is possible to reload your prepaid debit card either via a direct deposit or by using actual cash at a supported landbased location. One of the biggest advantages of prepaid debit cards is that you can use them for deposits as well as for withdrawals, cashing out your online casino loot at the nearest ATM.
Gift cards may also require activation – you can register them by calling the issuer over the telephone or by visiting their official website. Usually, the procedure involves filling in a form where you need to provide your gift card’s number, its expiration date, and its CVV code.
This would also enable you to check the card’s remaining balance and track your transactions from the comfort of your surroundings. The cool thing about these prepaid cards is that is impossible to overdraw them since your casino deposits cannot exceed the cards’ available balance. Note that gift cards are usually not reloadable due to their anonymous nature. Respectively, they are not supported for withdrawals.
Prepaid Virtual Cards
If you are averse to the idea of using a physical card due to the possibility of losing it or having it stolen, there is the option to set up a prepaid card that exists solely in cyberspace. Such virtual prepaid cards are offered by Entropay and ToditoCash. The latter is an option for Mexican players only whereas the former is available on a more global scale in over 120 countries.
Either way, you will have to undergo a brief registration process to set up your virtual card so that it is ready for use at online casinos. Registration would require you to provide some personal information and verify it, though. You must fill in your birth date, country of residence, and names before you proceed to add funds to your new virtual card, either by linking it to a physical card or by making a bank transfer.
Making a deposit with a virtual prepaid card is no different than the standard procedure since you still need to provide a card number, a CVV, and an expiry date. After you deplete the virtual card’s entire balance, you can choose to delete it and create another card on the fly. Of course, reloading the card is also an option. Entropay, in particular, enables you to set up as many as ten active virtual cards at the same time.
Prepaid Vouchers by Paysafecard, Neosurf, and Flexepin
Players who wish to remain fully anonymous have the alternative to use vouchers like those offered by Paysafecard, Neosurf, and Flexepin. All three methods work on the same principle – you purchase a voucher of your preferred value at a local retail store and use its PIN code to carry out your online casino deposits.
Paysafecard is the most widespread out of the three options. It is purchasable in more than 40 countries and supports all of their local currencies. The vouchers are offered in different denominations depending on one’s location and currencies but are most commonly available in $10, $25, $50, and $100. When depositing, players must enter only their voucher’s 16-digit code without sharing any other personal information.
The vouchers can be used repeatedly as long as they have any available balance. Paysafecard users also have the opportunity to conduct larger payments by combining the PIN codes of up to 10 of their vouchers. Registering a Paysafecard account is an alternative for those who want to track their voucher’s available balance online and cash out their wins at casinos supporting this method for withdrawals.
Flexepin is almost the same as Paysafecard, the only difference being it caters to casino players from Down Under. The method is also supported in several other locations including Romania, Canada, Cyprus, and Greece.
This voucher is available in four currencies (AUD, EUR, GBP, and CAD), has no expiry date, and also contains a 16-digit code. Unfortunately, the method cannot be used for cashing out your casino earnings. The values of the vouchers are significantly higher than those of Paysafecard as they reach up to $500.
Neosurf is yet another popular prepaid method for casino players. It gives them a chance to obtain a voucher of their desired denomination at a local point of sale or from an online reseller. The procedure of depositing with Neosurf is pretty straightforward and does not require the disclosure of any sensitive information. You only use your voucher’s 10-digit code. You can transfer the remainder of your voucher’s balance to another voucher as long as the sum does not exceed €250 or the currency equivalent. There is also the option to sign up for a myNeosurf account where you can upload your vouchers and check your transactions’ history.
Depositing Funds with Prepaid Cards
One of the main reasons why prepaid cards are growing in popularity among online casino depositors is their great ease of use. Depositing funds with a prepaid card is no different from the other methods you have previously used. You can fund your casino account and start winning at your favorite games literally within seconds. The exact deposit process and the information you need to fill in depend on the type of prepaid card you are using.
On all occasions, you will have to sign into your casino account and open the banking menu where you need to pick your preferred deposit method. If you are using a prepaid debit or gift card by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, you must select this option from the menu and provide the required information.
This includes the card’s number, its CVV, and the expiry date (if there is any). The same information is needed when conducting a payment via virtual prepaid cards by Entropay. Many online casinos would facilitate card payments by saving these details for future use.
Players who prefer to deposit via Paysafecard, Flexepin or Neosurf vouchers will go through the same procedure. The only difference is they will not have to provide any sensitive personal or banking information. Voucher deposits can be initiated only by inputting the voucher’s valid PIN code.
You are not expected to use all funds available in the card’s balance in a single transaction. The remaining balance can be spent on future deposits as most prepaid cards are valid for at least one year and some of them even have no expiration date. That being said, some prepaid methods like Paysafecard and Flexepin will deduct maintenance fees from your voucher’s available balance if you have not used it for over 12 months.
Deposits carried out via prepaid cards will not cause you to incur additional expenses as most online casinos do not charge players for topping up their accounts, or at least not with this widespread method. The minimum deposit amounts for prepaid cards are vastly different between casinos but would rarely exceed $10 per deposit. Players who use vouchers will have to comply with somewhat low deposit limits ranging from $200 to $1,000 per transaction.
Withdrawing Your Casino Earnings with Prepaid Cards
Depending on what kind of prepaid card you use, you might be able to withdraw as well as to deposit with it. This usually is possible when one uses a prepaid debit card but Paysafecard also supports withdrawals as an option in some countries as long as users register and verify their myPaysafecard account.
Of course, the casino you gamble at must also allow for withdrawals via Paysafecard in order for a reverse transfer to be possible. Some operators would pay out the winnings of voucher depositors via bank transfers where withdrawals can drag for up to 10 business days after approval.
The reverse procedure, if supported, is the same as depositing. You again sign into your online casino account, click on your desired withdrawal method, type in the amount, and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the payment. Once your withdrawal request has undergone all the routine checks, your money will be with you.
Very few online casinos would require you to pay additionally for cashing out to a prepaid debit card but it is still advisable to check your operator’s withdrawal policy and withdrawal limits. You can do so any time you want by contacting a customer support agent via live chat.
Fees Associated with Prepaid Cards
Since prepaid cards comprise a broader category of payment options, the fees associated with them may vary depending on the exact type of card one uses. The majority of established gambling operators do not enforce additional fees on deposits made via prepaid cards. However, if you are using a prepaid debit card you might suffer some extra charges on behalf on your issuer. Some issuers would also charge fees for topping up your prepaid card but the exact amount varies.
Players who use Paysafecard will also have their deposits processed at no cost but may end up paying extra for currency conversion. When a Paysafecard voucher remains unused for over 12 months, the sum of $2 will be deducted from your available balance as a service maintenance fees.
The same is valid for unused Flexepin vouchers, only the maintenance fee there is higher at $4 per month. Neosurf vouchers that have not been used for over a year will have a service fee of €2 (the method supports EUR and involves a 2% fee for currency conversion).
Using Prepaid Cards on Mobile
Online casino players can deposit with prepaid cards while away from their desktop computers as long as their casino of choice is compatible with portable devices. Most virtual casinos have gone mobile, allowing for play on the majority of iOS and Android tablets and smartphones. You can usually access the casino’s website in your mobile browser or install a dedicated application when available. Many online gambling operators would offer both alternatives.
Some prepaid solutions like Paysafecard and Neosurf offer free native applications which can be download either from the App Store or from the Google Play Store, depending on the operating system your mobile device runs on. The Neosurf app is quite useful as it enables mobile users to deposit vouchers into their myNeosurf accounts, make vouchers from their existing account balance, and of course, transfer money to their casino accounts on the move. However, installing this application is only available to players based in the UK, France, or Spain.
The Paysafecard application is just as handy, allowing you to hunt for the nearest outlets to buy vouchers from and check your previous transactions’ history. Depositing with a prepaid card or a voucher is pretty much the same thing on mobile as it is on desktop. You can access the casino’s cashier on your portable device, specify the deposited amount, and follow the instructions to confirm the payment.
Prepaid Cards and Security
If you are looking for a relatively safe payment option to fund your casino account, a prepaid card is exactly what you need. The transactions are largely risk-free because no personal or banking information needs to be shared. The prepaid cards are not linked to your bank account and therefore no confidential information is required, which basically makes them a safe casino-deposit method.
The risk of frauds or identity thefts with prepaid cards may be much smaller but it is not non-existent. Since the card is in no way connected to a bank account, thieves will not be able to steal more than the preloaded amount. However, these cards are not subjected to the same high levels of protection on behalf of card issuers, which means there is a likelihood you will not be reimbursed if your prepaid card gets stolen or lost.
Paysafecard, on the other hand, has taken further steps of protecting customers who have their vouchers stolen or lost. They can block their vouchers’ codes by entering them on the designated page of the method’s official website. Blocked voucher codes cannot be used for making a payment but it is possible to request a refund on behalf of Paysafecard.
Players who deposit via prepaid cards can further up their level of security by joining a trusted online casino that enforces all the necessary measures to protect its customers. Gambling operators of good repute mask their customers’ payment information with high-end encryption protocols and use advanced firewalls to ward off fraudsters. They never share any information regarding you or your transactions with third parties.
What Casino Games Can You Play with Prepaid Cards
- Online Slots – classic slots, video slots, slots with free spins and bonus games, progressives, and 3D slots
- Video Poker – Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, Aces and Faces, Aces and Eights, Joker Poker, 2 Ways Royal, All American, and Double Double Bonus Poker
- Blackjack – Blackjack Surrender, Blackjack Switch, Single-Deck Blackjack, Pontoon, Double Exposure, Duel Blackjack, All Bets Blackjack, Perfect Pairs, Atlantic City Blackjack, Vegas Strip Blackjack, and Live Blackjack
- Roulette – European, French, and American Roulette, 101 Roulette, Multi-Wheel Roulette, Diamond Bet Roulette, Mini Roulette, Progressive Roulette, and Live Roulette
- Other Table Games – Caribbean Stud Poker, Red Dog, Casino Hold’em, Casino War, Sic Bo, Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat, and Craps
Advantages of Using Prepaid Cards
- They help you set a reasonable limit on your gambling expenses
- They are widely supported by online casinos
- You can snatch some hefty welcome and reload bonuses
- They enable you to gamble anonymously
- Deposits are carried out without any waiting time
- They are perfect for players with no banking accounts
When it comes to funding your casino account by using a prepaid card, you might be surprised at how many advantages you can get. First of all, once you complete the transaction, the funds should be available in your account in a matter of minutes and you will be enabled to start playing without any delays.
Depending on the casino you have an account with, you might get a bonus for using a prepaid card. The vast majority of online casinos do not exclude players who deposit via prepaid methods from bonus redemption. This is great as bonuses can help you stretch your starting bankroll further and prolong your playtime. In contrast, some casino operators do not grant welcome bonuses to customers who boost their balance with e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller.
These cards are a great option for players who lack bank accounts or a sufficient credit history to apply for credit cards. Then again, some gamblers are altogether averse to the idea of disclosing their information to third parties. If you wish to keep your online gambling activities to yourself, you are strongly recommended to go for a prepaid card or better yet, a voucher allowing you to deposit with your 16-digit (10-digit for Neosurf) PIN code only.
In addition, prepaid cards help you control your spendings. There is no risk of slipping into the red or amassing gambling debts since you can only spend the amount that has been preloaded onto your card. There is no possibility of overdrawing your card and paying excessive overdraft fees, either. Last but not least, prepaid cards give you the peace of mind hackers will not be able to run up massive credits to your name even if they somehow succeeded in getting their hands on your card’s details.
Disadvantages of Using Prepaid Cards
- Withdrawals may be an issue
- Some gift cards cannot be used for international money transfers
- The deposit limits for these methods are generally lower
- You may incur additional cross-border fees
No payment method is entirely stripped of drawbacks and this is also valid for prepaid cards. The method is often not supported for withdrawals and you would either have to find an alternative or reconcile yourself with the idea of having your winnings returned via a slow bank transfer or a check.
Some issuers of prepaid cards try to avoid money laundering and other frauds by limiting such card transfers to domestic merchants only. Before you purchase a prepaid gift card, it would be best to check the fine print to see whether the card can be used for conducting international purchases. Otherwise, you will be unable to use the gift card if your preferred online casino has based its operations in another jurisdiction.
Another problem that may potentially ensue has to do with the lower deposit limits for such prepaid solutions, particularly vouchers. Most Paysafecard and Flexepin depositors will find themselves unable to top up their accounts with more significant amounts since the maximum deposits for these methods rarely would surpass $1,000. In many cases, the upper ceiling is even lower at $200 or so. This makes the method especially unsuitable for high rollers.
While prepaid cards are generally deemed an affordable deposit option, they may involve some fees when you make cross-border payments. Although prepaid debit cards offer players a level of safety that is almost equal to that of credit and regular debit cards, they are not subject to the same rigid standards and regulatory safeguards. Should any billing disputes ensue, there is no sure-proof guarantee you will have your money returned to you if you are using one such card.
You may not be reimbursed in the event of having your prepaid card stolen. We advise you to carefully go through the issuer’s theft policies before you apply for a prepaid card. Of course, this would not be an issue for players who use a prepaid Paysafecard as they can block the codes of lost or stolen vouchers.
