US Credit Cards at Online Poker Sites

If you’re looking to deposit into a US poker site with an unsecured credit card, you’re likely to run into difficulties. This is not due to anything new or any laws passed this or last decade; in fact, the reason credit cards are blocked at most US sites dates back to common law signed into effect in 1710 when the Statute of Anne made gambling debts unenforceable. Of course, it wasn’t until hundreds of years later credit card companies were affected by this statute. Before going any further into the laws and court precedents regarding credit card deposits to US gambling sites, we should state: it is still possible to deposit for online poker using a US credit card.

How to deposit with credit card for poker in US
 
One US poker site with very soft games and a high credit card approval rate is Sportsbook.com. This approval rate applies primarily to “secured” credit cards such as bank account debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard symbol and prepaid credit cards. Unsecured cards are generally declined for the reasons we’ve hinted at and will cover further on this page. However, deposits with unsecured credit cards can still be made if you first deposit into an ewallet.

Most every US poker site offers at least one ewallet that can be used to essentially fund your account with an unsecured credit card. For example, Bodog.com offers MyPayLinQ. Here you first fund your MyPayLinQ account with a credit card, and then you can use it to deposit into Bodog. The actual act of depositing into MyPayLinQ, which is an ewallet not a gambling site, is not considered a gambling transaction; therefore, the loop hole provided by the Statute of Anne is no longer applicable. This means you’ll need to pay your credit card bill or risk the normal penalties and legal actions that ensue towards people who don’t.

So, to state this clear before going forward: almost every site has a method by which you can deposit via credit card. If your card is secured, meaning its been preloaded or is linked to a checking or savings account, the easiest way to use that credit card to play poker in the US is to deposit directly at Sportsbook.com. If, on the other hand, your credit card is unsecured, you’ll need to take a closer look at the banking methods offered at the particular site where you’re looking to play. You should see a method you’re not familiar with such as GoldPay, UseMyWallet, eWalletXpress, iPoint, etc. When you see these methods, read their descriptions closely, as you’ll find many of them are third party processors that allow the sites to accept unsecured credit card transactions without risk that the debt will be unenforceable.

If you’re struggling to find a US poker site that accepts US credit cards, you might want to consider echeck deposits.

Problems Credit Card Companies Face

Gambling transactions are a nightmare for credit card companies, so don’t be surprised if the bank that provides your unsecured MasterCard or Visa closes your account should you frequently use the card for online gambling. This is not anything new. In 1991 a man from Massachusetts had a court rule in his favor that he did not need to pay his credit card bill for a $5,500 cash advance he got on a casino floor because where he lived, where he gambled, and where the bank is located, gambling debts are unenforceable. There are many similar stories for internet gambling. In 1998 not only did another court rule that a woman was not responsible for paying the $70,000 she racked up in credit card debt gambling online, but her attorneys were also successful in winning a counterclaim against MasterCard and Visa.

MasterCard and Visa have been going out of their way to block gambling transactions for nearly two decades now, when these transactions relate to unsecured credit cards. The reason they traditionally ignored it for prepaid and debit cards is because no “debt” is created through the use of these cards and therefore the same law does not apply. Things changed however in 2006. During this year it became illegal for banks and financial institutions to “knowingly” process transactions related to “illegal” gambling. (Keep in mind not all gambling is “illegal” see our page on poker law). With hefty penalties for violating this law, banks and credit cards companies are much more diligent in policing against online gambling transactions. For this reason, if you do use a credit card – do so at your own risk, and keep in mind it could result in your bank no longer wanting your business. As sad as that might be, it is the truth.

Alternative to Credit Card Deposits

So what’s the best solution for depositing online? In our personal opinion, eChecks, though there are several other options you can read about on our page on banking methods. If you’re a casual gambler, a deposit or two using your credit card is unlikely to be an issue. The real issue is determining how to get it approved and which is the best US poker site to play at. For those new and looking to deposit online via credit card, we suggest Sportsbook.com.