What is Visa?
Visa is a poker payment method that uses credit, debit or pre paid card facilities to deposit money in your account. It is a reliable system that unfortunately is at the mercy of the new US anti-gambling laws sweeping the internet. These laws have left many poker sites downright refusing to accept cards from US citizens, or insisting on a host of faxed, emailed or posted information to prove where you live and who you are. These issues are not as bad as they seem, Visa is a multinational corporation and they have the safety of their client’s money first in their minds. There is the option to use your visa electron debit card that more sites will accept; though the banks have to have certain criteria from you to make your card a debit card and not a credit card as is the standard practise.
How does it work?
Assuming you already have a Visa credit card, go to the poker room you most prefer online. Find a link to payment methods and click on it. You will be given a list of payment options. Choose the credit card method and select Visa under the various credit card names. You will then be required to give them your credit card number, expiration date number and the three digit code at the back of your card. After a short process where they assess if your card is acceptable or not, you may be required to send them bills or ID pictures for verification. Enter the amount of money you wish to transfer into your poker room account, and in a few minutes you should be ready to play. If your card is rejected you can try using it on another site. If all else fails sign up for a secondary account that you can credit with your credit card and use on almost any poker site. Minimum deposit is $50; maximum is $500 a day.
How do I get my money out if I win?
With any Visa card your money cannot be withdrawn and placed back into that account. Unfortunately like so many other credit cards you will have to open a secondary account like EwalletXpress to transfer money from the poker room to your bank account. To sign up for one of these secondary accounts search the payment method that will suit you best and register. Alternatively poker rooms can send you a check in the mail to your home address but this usually takes weeks to arrive and longer to clear. Best to open a secondary account rather if withdrawing money is something you will have to repeat more than once.
What are the advantages of using Visa?
- Visa allows you to deposit money without having to open a secondary account that may carry costly fees.
- There is a useful function on their website for reporting fraud, so that when it does happen to you, you can cancel your card as soon as possible.
What are the disadvantages of using Visa?
- Credit cards are not widely accepted as payment on poker sites anymore, due to the new US legislation.
- To withdraw money you will have to open a secondary account anyway.