Six years ago, Canada-based players were not legally allowed to take part in online gambling activities. Yet, the majority of them did not regard the lawful aspect as an obstacle for engaging in remote casino games by creating an account at offshore online casino sites.
Back in 2009, Canadian authorities legalized online gambling and enabled every province to decide whether to allow its residents freely take part in online casino games or not.
In 2010, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation was the first Canadian province to legalize online poker and since then, it has been constantly trying to expand the collection of games British Columbia residents have access to.
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Several months after the launch of the British Columbia remote gambling activities, Loto – Quebec followed suit and made the online poker games legal.
Manitoba was the next province to legalize the online casino games. The Atlantic Lottery also has its gambling site.
The fast expansion of the Canadian remote gambling sector brought about the necessity of establishing reliable payment methods. Since players’ safety is regulators’ top priority, there are several methods for depositing money into your casino account. Although these are the most widespread among Canadian residents, the accepted payment methods vary from casino to casino. You have to check in advance which are the accepted forms of depositing funds to your online casino. Some bank institutions prohibit transactions to and from online gaming websites.
The Canadian gambling regulator is the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and its members oversee the remote gambling sector.
Casino Deposit Methods for Canadians
VISA
VISA is among the most widespread methods for depositing funds into an online casino and some of the major Canadian bank institutions issue VISA debit, credit and prepaid cards.
You can get your VISA card from one of the following banks: Le Mouvement Desjardins, Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada, Chase Canada, Laurentian Bank Scotiabank, Citizens Bank, TD Canada Trust, Home Trust Company.
Visa Cards are accepted in more than 150 countries, which means that every VISA owner is enabled to use the card for making online and offline purchases in a wide range of stores and deposit funds into their online casino account as well.
Depending on the type of VISA you own, you will be required to take certain actions in order to fund your casino account. In case you want to use a prepaid VISA, you do not even have to create an account. You are required to visit one of the bank institutions and ask for a prepaid card to be issued. Most VISA prepaid cards are reloadable and you can choose from several convenient reloading options. You can directly transfer funds from your debit card to the reloadable VISA. Another option is to go in person to the bank institution and have it reloaded. Or, you can deposit new funds online.
As far as depositing a certain amount in your casino account is concerned, the VISA Prepaid card provides you with the security and convenience you have been looking for. Most VISA Prepaid cards do not come with a PIN code, so you have to select the CREDIT option. The amount you decide to deposit will be automatically deducted from your balance. Don’t forget that some bank institutions require you to activate your prepaid VISA prior to the first time you intend to use it.
As for the credit VISA cards, you can use one of those in order to fund your casino account. You are required to go to the deposit section and fill in the required fields. If the transaction is approved, you will be able to instantly start playing. You are billed on your next statement and if you pay the necessary amount on time, the funds you have used during the previous month, will not be a subject to heavy interest. One of the disadvantages of using your VISA credit card for depositing funds in an online casino is the fact that you are prone to overspending. Every credit card has a limit and you are not advised to go beyond it.
VISA Debit cards are the other convenient alternative for depositing funds and making online purchases. The depositing procedure is pretty much the same but the difference is that the amount is immediately deducted from the available balance and you can have better control on your spendings. If you connect your VISA debit with your casino account, you can withdraw your winnings directly into your bank account.
MasterCard
MasterCard is yet another brand associated with reliability and high level of security. MasterCard products are internationally accepted, which makes them perfect for online and offline purchases. You can use your MasterCard at every store where MasterCard’s logo is displayed. Here is a list of the bank institutions where you can purchase your MasterCard from if you are based in Canada: Wells Fargo Financial Corporation Canada, Bridgewater Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Comerica Bank, Alberta Treasury Branches, TD Canada Trust, DirectCash Bank, HSBC Bank Canada, All Trans Treasury, Financial Services,President’s Choice Financial, Citibank Canada, Peoples Trust Company, National Bank of Canada, Bank of America, Capital One, RBC Royal Bank, CIBC – Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, BMO – Bank of Montreal, GE Money.
When it comes to depositing funds to a preferred online casino by using MasterCard, you have three available options. You can use a prepaid card, debit or credit card. Unlike VISA, MasterCard does not allow players to withdraw their casino winnings.
The prepaid cards are one of the most commonly used deposit options as they allow players to keep track of their spendings. In order to get a prepaid MasterCard, you have to visit either a merchant or a bank institution that issues them. Remember that each prepaid card has a limit and you can reload it as many times as you wish. Beware that some of them have expiration dates. If you want to reload your card, you have to visit a merchant that provides such kind of services or directly go to the bank that has issued your MasterCard. Some kinds of prepaid cards allow direct deposit from your checking account. Keep track of the balance of your prepaid card. In most cases, you can see the remaining funds on the receipt you get when you buy goods but not all merchants offer such a functionality.
The majority of online casinos accept MasterCard credit cards as a method for depositing money. The brand offers a wide variety of cards intended to suit your needs and lifestyle. If you want to make a deposit to an online casino, you have to go to the cashier and select the MasterCard credit card option and fill in the required information. You will see details about the transaction in the next bank statement.
Debit cards under the brand of MasterCard are a widely accepted payment method in Canada. As a result, all trustworthy online casinos accept payments via debit cards. In order to deposit funds, you have to go to the cashier and select MasterCard Debit from the list of available payment options. Then, you have to determine the amount you would like to be deposited and the funds should be available in your account within a few minutes. The main advantage of the debit card is that you spend money you actually have. The amount is instantly deducted from your balance.
Instadebit
Instadebit is probably the most widespread depositing method in Canada due to a number of reasons. First of all, it allows players to instantly deposit funds and withdraw winnings, while other methods require some paperwork to be done or it just takes too much time until you have your funds available.
Anyway, Instadebit is easy to use and when it comes to depositing funds to an online casino, it is probably one of the best choices one can make. Instadebit is secure and there are no solid fees for depositing or withdrawal. You can create an account with Instadebit provided you have an account in one of the following Canadian bank institutions: RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and some other credit unions.
In order to get started, you have to set up your Instadebit account. During the registration process, you will be required to enter personal and bank details such as your name, address, and the last digits of your social security card. Although some people are afraid of sharing such confidential information online, rest assured that your details will not be shared with third parties. You will learn more details about the security of all payment methods at a later stage.
The next step is entering information about the bank account you want to link with Instadebit. In order to complete that step, you will need your account number, routing and branch numbers.
When you have already created an account, you have to wait until your identity is verified. A small amount of money will be deducted from your bank account and you will fund the sum deposited into your Instadebit account. Keep it in mind that the transfer may take up to 3 business days. Then, you have to log into your Instadebit account and verify that it belongs to you.
Once the verification is completed, you can start using Instadebit for funding your casino account. For that purpose, you are supposed to go to the cashier, select Instadebit as a preferred depositing method and initiate a transaction. The amount you want to deposit will be immediately deducted from your debit card balance and you will be able to start playing within a few minutes.
PaySafeCard
PaySafeCard is yet another widespread method for depositing funds to online casinos. It is commonly used by poker players but its increasing popularity made players keen on other casino games consider taking advantage of it. PaySafeCard is a plastic, pre-paid card used for making online and offline purchases. Its main advantage is that the customer is not required to share sensitive bank and personal information. Depending on your location, you can find PaySafeCard sold as an electronic voucher. There is no need to enter your bank account number. You just have to get a card featuring a denomination of $5, $10, $25, $50 or $100.
In order to make purchases and pay via Paysafecard, you have to enter your username and password. It might not be necessary to enter the 16-digit code you were given upon acquiring the card. You can keep track of your banking history through your profile. This will give you a better idea about the amount of your spendings. The Paysafecard is a reloadable one, which means you can add funds to it. The PIN remains the same regardless of the number of times you reload it.
Depositing funds to a preferred online casino is not different from a regular purchase. You just have to select PaySafe as a primarily depositing method and enter the required information.
Interac
Interac is a well-known name in Canada when it comes to processing payments. In fact, it has long been known as the official debit payment processing system of the nation, boasting over 30 years of history with this brand name, and even more so beforehand.
The Interac payment processing solution allows online casino players to deposit and withdraw funds simply using their existing bank or credit union accounts. All you need to do to get started is open an account with one of the partnering institutions, which shouldn’t be too much of a hassle considering these include BMO, RBC, Scotiabank among 250 others.
Bear in mind that it offers a range of different products, such as Interac Debit, Interac Cash, Interac Online and Interac e-Transfer. The first two are some of the older offerings by the financial institution, while Interac Online only allows deposits to online casino player accounts. Due to this, most players tend to go with the last option, e-Transfer, considering it allows fast and secure deposits and cashouts both.
Once you hold an account with any of the partnering banks or credit unions, all you have to do is choose from the Canada online casinos featuring this payment method and register for an account. When the time comes for you to put some value into your player account, just choose Interac e-Transfer from the list of available options and log into your existing online banking account. Here, choose the same e-Transfer option, specify the amount you would like to deposit, and upon confirmation, you will receive a security question via text, email or other contact option you have listed. Answer the question correctly to verify your identity and the funds will reach your online casino account immediately.
It’s more or less the same with withdrawals, only players specify the bank account where they would like to receive the funds and provide the security question and answer. The casino takes actions to see if the answer matches that provided for the online banking account; as soon as it is confirmed, the operator authorizes the transfer, taking about 4-6 business days to complete the process.
Security is definitely a major benefit with this payment method, especially since it doesn’t come at the cost of lengthy delays. Nevertheless, the low fees are also advantageous – ranging from $0.00-$4.00, but in reality, only between $0.50-$1.50.
iDebit
iDebit originally came about from the older payment processing service known as InstaDebit, catering primarily to customers from Canada. While they chose to retain their market, the new iDebit service opted for a much wider user pool. Nowadays, residents from 20+ countries including Australia, Finland, Germany, France, UK, Sweden, Belgium, South Africa and of course, Canada, are able to process payments to their chosen e-merchants.
When it comes to iDebit availability, it is notable that they are constantly working on expanding their e-commerce network. By establishing a presence at a greater number of merchant websites, they reach an even wider audience and achieve even greater traffic.
Nevertheless…
…even as it is, the processing service ensures great support and availability. It is basically seen as an e-wallet solution, even though it comes with two options – direct online bank transfers or an inherent e-wallet account transfer.
On the one hand, the service can act as an intermediary between your chosen bank account (from the partnering financial institutions) and the other party’s bank account.
iDebit additionally offers the option of an e-wallet account. Simply access the official website and register for an account. Again, you will need to choose a regular banking account from one of the partnering institutions in order to fund your e-wallet, so make sure you transfer enough funds to keep you going.
Deposits at online casinos are simple and take up a few steps at the most – just make sure you choose an iDebit casino that meets your player needs (game selection, bonuses, terms, privacy). Select this payment method when making a deposit and choose whether to go with the direct bank transfer or the e-wallet option. Either way, you will need to log into the account, specify the amount that you would like to transfer and confirm.
Withdrawals are just as simple, and won’t take you more than the average cashout time of a couple of minutes.
Both options have their pros and cons, with security remaining a priority at either end. Still, the e-wallet option serves as an extra layer of security between the merchant and your bank account. Moreover, it eliminates the small fee attached to direct banking payment processing, making it all the better.
Citadel Direct North America
Citadel Direct is a convenient payment solution that makes it possible for players to deposit funds to their online casino accounts by making a direct transfer from their bank account and complete various online and offline purchases. Citadel provides both parties customers and merchants with the required level of protection, efficiency and transparency.
Citadel Direct North America, also known as Citadel Direct Canada, makes the depositing procedure fairly easy to players. One of the advantages of this payment method features is the fact that customers are not required to create a new account. In other words, they can use the Citadel, as it will be included as a deposit option at your favourite casino and you will be able to deposit funds in a few steps.
If you want to make a deposit with Citadel Direct, you have to log into your casino account and select it as a payment method. Depending on the casino you have an account with, it can be named Internet Banking, Instant Banking, etc. In order to complete the transaction, you will be required to enter the necessary bank and personal details. Your transaction is a subject to approval but you will be enabled to start playing within a few minutes.
How Safe these payment Methods Are?
The main concern of every player is the fact that in order to deposit and withdraw money from their casino account, they are required to share sensitive personal and bank information. Some of them opt for prepaid cards in order to avoid revealing any confidential information. However, some others prefer the convenience and link their casino account to their debit or credit card. Yet, every player wants to make sure they have chosen the most reliable payment method.
Each one of the depositing methods mentioned above has proven its efficiency and security. Their state of art fraud models and determination to protect customers’ privacy guarantee a trouble-free depositing experience. However, the customer also has to take some actions towards protecting any sensitive information from leaking. You are not advised to enter your username/ password and bank details when you are connected to public wireless. You should not open SPAM emails urging you to click on a link and follow the instructions. No reputable bank institution would ever ask for a bank account number, username or password.
Can I deposit funds to my Casino account if I have an account with Canadian bank?
Having an account with a Canadian bank does not necessarily mean you are enabled to deposit funds. Some bank institutions do not process transactions for gambling purposes. That is why it is essential to inform yourself whether your bank processes gambling – related transactions.
How Can I Deposit Money at a Casino?
Once again, you have to check what kind of deposit methods your preferred online casino supports. You will be able to see the available options when you log into your account. Pick up a depositing method you are comfortable with and follow the instructions.
How Long Will It Take After Depositing Before I Can Play?
No matter which one of the aforementioned depositing methods you are going to use, you should be able to start playing in less than an hour. Both payment method companies and online casino officials realize that slow and inadequate service may make players less enthusiastic about playing at that specific online casino. In other words, their top priority is convincing the players that there is no other online casino that offers such appealing deals and second to none customer service.
How Do I Withdraw My Winnings?
It depends on the online casino you have an account with but in most cases, you have to go to the cashier and select the withdraw option. Then, you will be prompted to choose one of the above-mentioned methods for withdrawing your winnings. You may face issues if you attempt to withdraw your money to a MasterCard. Company’s policy includes reducing the number of casino-related transactions. There is one exception, though. If the MasterCard is your primarily payment option and you have used it for making your first deposit ever, the system might allow you to use it as a withdrawal method.
As for the rest of the payment options, the withdrawal usually takes at least three business days. Then, you will be able to use any ATM in order to withdraw your money. Don’t forget about the fees for withdrawal as well. Some companies apply a flat fee. Regardless of the amount you withdraw, there is no change in the amount you are charged with. However, some others set the withdrawal fee according to the sum you are going to transfer.
If you have a prepaid card that requires you to go to a merchant or the bank institution in order to have it reloaded, this means you cannot use it for withdrawal purposes.
It is understandable that you are impatient to withdraw the money you have won, especially when the payout is really solid. However, read the terms and conditions of your online casino very carefully. If you qualify for a bonus, you will be able to withdraw it only when you meet certain prerequisites.
Can I receive bonus if I use specific deposit method?
As mentioned earlier, you have to check which are the accepted depositing methods your online casino supports. Some online casinos offer similar daily or weekly deals, while others provide between 5% and 15% match bonus for using a certain payment method.
Online Casinos Accepting Canadian Players
The majority of online casinos accept international players and Canada-based ones in particular. Yet, here comes the importance of choosing a reliable casino for a trouble-free gambling experience. The great number of online casinos makes it difficult to determine which one is a trustworthy one but in general, you can count on casinos licensed by a major gambling commission.
Take your time and conduct a research about the casino you intend to play at. If you see that its license has been issued by Maltese, UK or Gibraltar gambling authorities, this is an indication that it is a scam-free one.
For utmost gambling experience, feel free to check out the following sites: 888casino, Bodog, Betway, William Hill, Casino.com. You will find generous deposit bonuses, courteous customer service and the highest level of security.
