Banking Method: Credit Card

Information about Credit Cards

There are various payment methods available to fund your online casino account. For a lot of people e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill or Neteller are the preferred choices because it is safe and convenient. Other gamblers argue that crediting your account directly from your credit card causes less hassle as it is at the end of the day the original method of payment.

Credit cards were one of the first payment methods that did not involve a commercial banking system or cash. There are various credit cards available to users from all across the globe such as Diners Club, American Express, VISA and MasterCard. Out of all the credit cards available VISA and MasterCard remain the top choice for citizens all over the world. Both these credit card companies have over 4 decades of experience in the industry. MasterCard is considered to be the big daddy of credit cards as it was launched in 1966, Visa short on its heels became a reality in 1975.

A credit card is a magical and also dangerous thing to have. Credit cards have almost become a necessity especially if you wish to build a good credit score to apply for home loans or even a cell phone contract. A credit card works a little different than your normal charge (debit card), with this card you have the opportunity to credit your online casino account or make a purchase online or from a store without having the cash on you. When you apply for a credit card you will be asked to provide all your personal financial information which includes all income sources such as your salary or alternative incomes. Once all the information is processed you will either be approved for a credit card or rejected. If you are approved you will receive a credit card with a certain limit added to your card. If you for instance earn $500 dollars per month they could provide you with a credit card limited at $1,000 or even more. Your credit score will determine if the amount is raised or not at a later stage.

Using your credit card especially for online gambling is easy and convenient as you can fund your account now and only pay off the money to the credit card company later on in the month. However if you are not responsible enough to pay off your credit debt in time you will be charged and your credit rating will be affected. Choosing to use a credit card to fund your online gambling experience means that you will have a wider range of online casinos to choose from as almost all online casinos accept Visa or MasterCard as a payment method.

When it comes to credit cards there are many factors to account for. One thing many wonder about is the fees attached to using a credit card. The problem is that you can’t provide fees for just one of the credit card companies. Each and every credit card company works through your local bank. Most fees attached to any purchases, withdrawals or transfers via credit card is directly linked to your local bank.

Some might find their transaction fees to be affordable where others see it as too expensive. One thing is clear and that is that even setting up a credit card comes with a fee. Once you’ve been approved for a credit card you will be expected to pay a certain amount which varies depending on your currency. For most credit card users there is also a monthly service fee connected to having a credit card whether you use it or not. In most cases that is the only fee deducted from your account even if you purchase online a lot. Most transactions are fee free apart from the recurring monthly fee. The most expensive thing to do via your credit card is to draw money directly from it as that will result in an additional transaction fee. Unlike e-wallet payment options you won’t pay a set fee if you refrain from using your credit card. Just be sure to pay the monthly fee to stay debt free. You will also be charged a fee if your credit card has not been paid off within a time period of 30 or 60 days. After this you will only be charged an interest rate on the amount still owed. Hence why it is always better to use your credit card responsibly especially if you are gambling online.

Deposit and cash-out times

One of the additional perks of having a credit card is that you can make instant withdrawals. All you have to do is visit the casino cashier, select credit card payment as your deposit method and enter your details. Once the transfer is complete the funds will show up in your casino account instantly. Now you can go ahead and test out all the amazing online slots and table games your casino has to offer.

On the downside credit cards aren’t always the best when it comes to withdrawals. Once you have played a couple of games and earned some extra winnings you can opt for withdrawals via your credit card. While credit cards are accepted at almost every single online casino available they all come with a waiting period. E-wallet cash-outs are almost always instant or at least within 24 hours. With your credit card you are looking at a minimum withdrawal processing time of 1 to 3 days. In some cases you might even wait as long as 7-14 days depending on your local bank.

Security

Because credit cards are relatively easy to use and allow for big spending even when you don’t have the immediate cash available on you, they come with a bigger risk factor. If ever your credit card gets into the wrong hands you might be looking at some serious debt issues. Luckily the industry leading credit providers such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Diners know the risk and work around the clock to keep improving their security features.

Each and every credit card provider makes use of the latest SSL digital encryption technologies to ensure that all data is transmitted safely and securely. Using your card used to be as easy as just swiping or entering your card details, later on a pin and chip technology was designed to further increase the security of credit cards. Recently the 2-step verification process became a reality. It might take a few seconds longer to complete your transaction but there is no doubt that it is a lot safe. With the 2-step verification process you will be required to add your normal card details after which you will be led to a second screen where you need to enter a one-time pin that has been sent to your mobile device. Only by entering this pin correctly will the transaction be complete.

The credit card providers also have a very strict policy against sharing your personal information. Many even have additional security measures in place such as ID Theft Alerts and Emergency Wallet Replacement as is the case with MasterCard. Fact is that credit cards are used daily for online purchases, online gambling and even daily use at local stores and ATM’s. Therefore you can rest assured knowing that Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, American Express or your chose brand of credit card provider has taken all the necessary precaution to protect you and your financial information to the best of their abilities.  

Rewards

As with the fees it is pretty hard to lay down all the rewards you can receive from your credit provider. The good news is that each and every credit provider has their own list of benefits and promotions. Depending on which companies and online casinos partner up with your credit provider, you can receive a host of different discounts and other benefits. In some cases you might even get cashback when using your credit card at certain places including the gas station.

When you visit the credit card providers’ web page directly you will be able to see all the offers and promotions you can benefit from. That way you never miss out on any deals, it is always nice to know beforehand how much you can get from your credit provider. When it comes to online gambling the biggest rewards include instant deposits and safe and secure transactions. Most online casinos have exclusive promotions for e-wallet payment solutions but not really for credit card payment options such as Visa, MasterCard or American Express. In most cases it is because these established payment options are preferred and more common among online gamblers. If you are looking for additional casino promotions it would be best to pay via payment methods such as Skrill Moneybookers, Neteller or PayPal.

Support

Most of the credit providers have a professionally trained customer support team ready to help you with any questions, queries or problems you might have. In most cases it is generally best to consult their FAQ page as it has a vast amount of commonly asked questions listed with detailed answers to each and every one. You will never struggle to find an answer. If however there is a problem with your card or you are having difficulty with a transaction you can contact them via telephone, email or in some cases even Live Chat. The support staff is generally only available during certain hours but if you contact them via email you are guaranteed to receive a response sooner rather than later. Most users prefer live chat or email as it allows them to skip waiting for a representative to open up and take their call.

An alternative method of contacting your credit provider would be via popular social sites such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Most credit providers have active accounts on all three these social sites if not more. You can simply sent them a direct message or post it publically. Before you choose the latter it would be best to consult their community guidelines and rules as some forms of contact are not tolerated and will only penalise you. Overall it is always easy to get hold of the support team and most problems are generally sorted in record time.

Payment options

Funding your credit card is relatively easy as it is generally linked to your bank account. With linked accounts you can simply pay off your credit card debt via direct bank transfer, online payments or through your debit card. Any other payment can be done as long as you have the correct details. In most cases it is easier to pay via your bank or EFT.

With modern technology constantly growing most people do their banking online or via a phone application. This makes it quicker and less of a mess. Luckily paying your credit card is one of the easiest things to do. Alternatively you could arrange that your salary or other sources of income pay directly into your credit card. This will not just crush your debt immediately but also provide you with a better credit score.

Special features

Each and every credit provider has a range of other cards on offer. If you are with MasterCard for example you could always apply for a MasterCard Prepaid card. With this card you can simply load funds directly from your credit card and control your finances better. This option could work if you are scared of overspending on your credit card. You will never be able to go over the limit or rake up debt with the prepaid card as you are only allowed to spend the amount loaded onto the card.

American Express has a large variety of cards available that come with their own set of rewards. The Starwood preferred guest credit card from American express allows you to cash in on bonus Starpoints when spending a certain amount of money. These can be mainly used for cheaper flights. The Amex Everyday Preferred Credit Card gets you regular reward points that can later be used to pay for entertainment, retail and even dining. These points can also be used to help cover travel expenses such as flights and hotel bookings.

Conclusion

The best feature of all credit card providers such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard is that they allow you to fund your online casino account instantly leaving you more time to enjoy your favourite online casino games.