PLEASE NOTE THIS PAYMENT METHOD HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
SOLO is a debit card that belongs to the Maestro family. So, you must be wondering, how does the SOLO debit card differ from its sister card Maestro?
As a debit card…
…owned and operated by Switch Card, which is today known as Maestro, the SOLO solution functions on the basis of the UK-based company’s network, and it was first issued in 1997.
The aim of this solution was to meet the needs of those cardholders that did not meet the requirements to obtain a Maestro card, either due to bad credit history, or because they were not of legal age to hold a card.
With SOLO…
…the company hit the jackpot. As soon as the card was first launched, it received such attention, especially with the younger population, minors under the age of 18.
So, even though the Maestro debit card couldn’t be its competition, due to obvious reasons, still SOLO bump into another competitor, the VISA Electron debit card. VISA Electron functions the same way, but, the fact that SOLO could be issued to minors, made it a leader for a long period of time.
With some banks…
…cardholders need to be 11 years of age, while with others they have to be of minimum 13 years of age. Nevertheless, it was a card popular among people who couldn’t get a Maestro debit card, so with that much interest from clients, the Switch network expanded at a significant length.
To obtain this debit card, you would need to address your bank institution and see whether it is authorized to issue it. After you complete the application form, a bank account on your name will be opened, linked directly to your card.
Of course, just like VISA Electron, you would need to use the funds you have on your bank account only. You cannot overdraw, like with a VISA debit card, but you can only spend as much as you have on your account, and not a cent more.
Pros and Cons of Using SOLO at Online Casinos
This debit card is used for purchasing goods and services, therefore, it is available across online casinos as a deposit method. However, you can also make withdrawals with it, and that’s why throughout the years, SOLO has made sure to join the withdrawal method lists all across online casinos, too. This is not something offered with all debit cards, so it can be considered as one of the major benefits of using it.
Many casinos accept it as a payment method, and that’s another perk. That’s due to the fact that this debit card is part of the Maestro network, hence, it implements its security measures. The Switch company has a reputation for providing users with protected and secure transactions, especially in the online gambling industry. The high-end security certificates, and the fact that the user’s account balance is checked before the transaction is approved, add an extra layer of protection.
Playing with a safe banking option is essential, because you’re playing at online casinos with real money, and you don’t want that money to be lost in the transfer. You need to be sure that the option you’ve chosen is 100% secure and SOLO definitely is.
Another perk…
…you get by using this solution as your payment method for playing at online casinos is that you’ll get the chance to manage your bankroll. The fact that you cannot spend more than you have on your bank account is a safety net for you not to overspend while playing your favourite roulette game, lotto variant or bingo. Spending more money than you have is the first step towards problem gambling, so having the thing under control would prove pretty beneficial for your overall well-being.
Many problem gamblers have reported that they have gone into debt due to the fact that they couldn’t control their urge to play more and more, especially when they were losing. In hopes that the next round would be a winning one, these players would overdraw money from their cards that allowed it, and they would basically be playing with money they did not own. So with this debit card, where overdrawing is not possible, you’ll be on the safe side and you’ll gamble responsibly.
Availability…
…on the other hand, is discussable. On one hand, you can obtain this card without much effort. On the other hand, though, it is not accepted in many online casinos due to the fact that minors can also get it. Not only could they get it, but the majority of SOLO cards are used by the younger population. To save themselves the trouble, operators choose not to accept it as a payment method precisely for this reason. Minors are not accepted across online casinos, so if they’re about to accept this card as an option for making deposits and withdrawals, operators would have to be on alert every time someone chooses to use it, out of fear that maybe a minor is trying to go around the regulations.
This may lead to a risk of rejected transactions, or delayed transactions, due to the operator’s efforts to check your identity and verify your age.
Still…
…across the many online merchants and retailers, you will find around 70 online casinos that accept it as a method, and that number continues to grow. That’s partly because casinos have started recognizing its strengths, but also because more and more players are showing interest in it. And considering casinos want to please their customers and hear their demands, more and more of them are starting to offer it as a possible payment method for players to choose.
Depositing and Withdrawing
As you could gather from all of the above, using SOLO for depositing and withdrawing at online casinos is smart, given the casino you are about to join accepts it.
So, the first thing you need to do before you start using it is to check whether the casino you’re eyeing accepts it as an option for depositing and withdrawing. You can do that by checking its homepage and trying to find the SOLO logo at the bottom of the page.
If the logo is there, you can proceed with creating your casino account. After you enter the required personal details, you’ll be asked to choose a deposit method. Go to the Cashier section of the casino, and find the debit card.
To fund your online casino account…
…by clicking on the SOLO icon, a new window will open. Here, you would need to provide your personal details, the card number, code, expiration date, and the amount you want to deposit. These pieces of information are essential, so that it can be confirmed, undoubtedly, that you’re the owner of the card, and of course, that you’re not a minor.
Finally, after you confirm the transaction, the bank would be electronically contacted to confirm that you have the balance on your bank account. After the bank authorizes the transfer, in a day or two, you will have the money at your online casino account. The reason for the holdup is the fact that the bank must verify and validate your transaction. In case you’ve requested more money than you have on your bank account, the transaction won’t go through.
Cashing out your winnings…
…is even simpler than this. Provided your deposit transaction went through, you played and won something, to withdraw your winnings, you would again have to go to the Cashier page. You need to look for the SOLO logo again. You should not worry about its availability as a withdrawal method, because if the casino accepts it as a deposit, it will most certainly accept it as a withdrawal method.
Once you find it, a window will open again, where you’ll need to enter the necessary information. Of course, you’ll need to enter how much you want to withdraw, too, and then confirm your transaction. The funds should be on your bank account in a couple of days after the casino verifies and confirms that the money you requested to withdraw is available on your casino account.
The best part about using this card is that it is a physical card, so you can withdraw your winnings, once they are on your bank account, from any local ATM, or use them for purchasing and paying for all kinds of goods and services. The fact that this card functions as any other credit or debit card in this aspect, only makes it more attractive for casual online casino players who intend to spend the money they’ve won on other things, too, and not only to continue playing at the online casino with it.
All Casinos Accepting SOLO
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FAQ
SOLO is a debit card that has an international nature, just like its sister card Maestro. Therefore, it is offered in most countries across the world. All you have to do is check with your bank or other local banks to see whether they are authorized to issue it. Once you obtain your card, you can use it across all casinos that accept it.
Considering it is an international banking solution, SOLO is available in many currencies. The standard ones, the euro, the US dollar, the British pound sterling, the Canadian dollars, and the Australian dollars are accepted, of course, but so are many other currencies. You should check with your bank. If it is authorized to issue it, you would probably be able to make transactions with your own country’s currency, too.
Of course, you can only deposit the money you already own, you already have on your bank account. So this can be considered a limit in one way because you cannot overdraw funds. There’s no limit as to how much you can withdraw with it. However, you should be careful with the limits imposed by your online casino. An online casino has the right to impose limits, regardless of the banking solution you are using, so before you join it, make sure you check the deposit and withdrawal limits.
Obtaining the card and opening the bank account is free of charge. However, when it comes to currency exchange or similar actions, there may be some symbolic fees. Also, you have to check with your casino to see whether it charges some fees regarding this banking solution. You can never be too sure, so double-check this fact with the operator before you start using the solution.
Sure. As long as the casino is mobile-compatible and allows mobile play, you can make deposits and withdrawals with SOLO as easy as 1,2,3. The fact that it is a physical card that you can hold in your hands simultaneously with your phone gives you the advantage to finish depositing and withdrawing quickly.
Some casinos, especially casinos that have just started offering it as a payment method, create bonus offers that would entice players to start using it. The bonus could be for any game, or for specific games only. Or it can be in the form of a Bonus Match, which you can use to play any of the games offered at the casino.
