Money is the lubricant that makes the betting world go ‘round. Without money, there is no such thing as betting. And for that money to be available, we need to be able to move it to and from various online betting sites.

Depositing at online betting sites does not have to be complicated, but the process can be frustrating depending on where you place your bets. Mobile sportsbooks do not always explain how betting deposit options work, which methods are accepted, and how much new customers can deposit. Read on for all the key details.

There are two parts to moving money in the betting world:

  • Getting your money TO a betting site
  • Getting your money FROM a betting site

Both of these movements need to happen for online betting to be successful. The first step is getting your money to the betting site. That will allow you to place your bets and participate in the awesome hobbies of betting on sports, playing gambling games, and testing your skills at the poker table.

Getting your money back out is just as important. If it’s not easy for a player to get his money back from a betting site, he will never play there again. The entire process needs to be smooth from the beginning to the end.

So, let’s talk about both aspects. This guide will explain how the most common deposit and withdrawal methods work.

Popular Online Betting Deposit Methods

After choosing a betting site and signing up for an account there, the first step is to make a deposit. This allows you to fund your account and join the betting action. Every betting site has its own unique list of deposit methods, but the following methods are a few of the most common.

Credit and Debit Cards

  • Transaction time: Instant
  • Ease of use: Very easy
  • Deposit limits: Wide-ranging

Credit or debit cards are one of the easiest and fastest ways to get your money online. You can visit the cashier of just about any betting or gambling site in the world and see an option for credit and debit cards.

The process depositing at betting sites with a credit card is basically the same as purchasing from Amazon or any other online store. You select your card’s brand, type in your card number, and then type in an amount to deposit. If the deposit is successful, sportsbooks should fund your account instantly.

Deposit limits with this method tend to be flexible, with customers usually able to deposit as little as $10 per transaction and as much as several thousand dollars depending on the sportsbook.

Important things to know about depositing with a credit or debit card:

  • Not all card issuers support online betting: Some issuing banks automatically decline all transactions related to online sports betting and gambling. This may be due to financial institutions viewing such transactions as being at high risk of chargeback or due to conservative polices left in place from the days before online gambling was legalized. Customers who have problems depositing can try contacting their bank or using a different deposit method (most other methods are similarly convenient).
  • Credit card deposits may incur a cash advance fee: Some banks treat all credit card transactions related to gambling as cash advances and charge a deposit fee.

If neither of those options works, give your betting site’s customer service department a call. Sometimes they have other methods to make the deposit a success.

Cash via PayNearMe

  • Transaction time: Up to 30 minutes
  • Ease of use: Medium
  • Deposit limits: $10 to $500 per day (subject to some variance)

For customers who are more comfortable playing with cash, PayNearMe can be used to turn physical currency into an online betting bankroll. Bettors who choose this method are given a pay slip that they can either print or save to their mobile device to pay at the nearest PayNearMe location.

Sports betting sites are notified of PayNearMe deposits in real time and credit players’ accounts immediately. The two major downsides to PayNearMe are that it requires a trip to the nearest location (usually a 7-Eleven, CVS or Family Dollar) and that maximum deposits are typically limited to $500 or $1,000 per day.

PayPal

  • Transaction time: Instant
  • Ease of use: Easy for current accountholders; medium for new users
  • Deposit limits: Wide-ranging

PayPal is very easy to use for customers who already have an account but requires new customers to register an account prior to first use. Registering an account is pretty easy, but it still takes a couple minutes and isn’t quite as easy as simply depositing via credit card or eCheck.

However, once an account is established, PayPal is highly convenient. It can be used to make deposits, receive cashouts and to quickly move money from one online sportsbook to the next. Frequent bettors can also use PayPal as a safe holding place to keep their sports betting bankroll separate from their other money.

Skrill

  • Transaction time: Instant
  • Ease of use: Medium
  • Deposit limits: Wide-ranging

Skrill is another e-wallet similar in fashion to PayPal. A Skrill account allows bettors to make deposits from their bank account or credit card, make purchases online and to receive cashouts.

Wire Transfers

  • Transaction time: Up to 24 hours
  • Ease of use: Cumbersome
  • Deposit limits: Very high limits

The wire transfer deposit method isn’t used very often, but it is available at many betting sites. When you choose this deposit method, you’ll be sent a set of instructions that tell you how to complete the transfer.

Wire transfers require you to visit your bank in person to send money straight to the betting site’s bank account. It’s a pain to visit the bank in person (as opposed to just depositing online), but it works fairly quickly. Your bank may charge you a fee for making a wire transfer, so save this one for larger deposits.

Cash Transfers

Cash transfers use services such as Western Union and MoneyGram to send money straight to the betting site. The downside to using cash transfers is that you have to drive to the nearest money station and complete the transfer in person.

The good news is that you’re probably not far from a cash transfer station. Cash transfer outlets are located all over the place. You can use a debit card to complete the transaction or bring cash. This deposit method comes in handy when you have extra cash lying around and would like to use that money to place your bets.

EcoCard

The EcoCard is a part of the ecoPayz online wallet solution. You can create an account with ecoPayz and use that as a virtual wallet. You can send money to ecoPayz straight from your bank account and then use ecoPayz to move that money to your betting account.

You can also get a plastic EcoCard that you can use as an ATM/debit card linked to your ecoPayz account. So if you request a payout, you can either send the money to your bank or use your physical EcoCard to withdraw cash and make purchases.

Neteller

Neteller is a great deposit and payment method that works similarly to PayPal. Neteller acts as an online wallet that you can use to move your money around online. Neteller transfers are processed very quickly. If Neteller is an option at your betting site, it’s worth a look.

Check or Money Order by Mail

  • Transaction time: Two weeks
  • Ease of use: Cumbersome
  • Deposit limits: Varies

The number of betting sites that accept personal checks and money orders by mail is dwindling, but some operators do still take this method. Customers can get started by choosing “check” from within the cashier for a mailing address and instructions. Anyone in a hurry should be aware that this is by far the slowest deposit method of all.

Paysafecard (Formerly Ukash)

Paysafecard and Ukash merged in 2015 and now operate as a single entity. The basic idea behind Paysafecard is that you purchase a card in person with cash and then redeem it online. This serves the dual purpose of protecting your banking information and providing a convenient solution to converting physical cash into online currency.

Withdrawal Options

Hopefully, a time will come when it’s time to cash out your winnings. Withdrawing your winnings is the final and most important step in betting. This is when you get to claim your earnings and spend your hard-earned cash.

Most betting sites automatically process your withdrawal back out through the same method that you used to deposit. If you used Neteller to make a deposit, you would usually use Neteller to get your winnings. Credit cards can sometimes be credited back with your winnings, but many times you’ll have to choose a different withdrawal method.

In any case, here are some of the most popular payment solutions:

Checks by mail are old-fashioned, but they’re reliable provided the sender uses certified mail . Choose this option, and the betting site will send a check via FedEx or the USPS. Take that check to the bank, deposit it, and you’re good to go.

This is another popular option in the United States. If you choose to receive a cash transfer, the betting site will send you an e-mail with the information you need to visit a local cash transfer station and claim your withdrawal. You’ll get cold, hard cash with this method, which is always nice.

The one downside to this payment solution is that withdrawals are usually limited to less than $1,000 at a time. If you need to cash out something like $15,000, you’ll want to opt for a paper check instead.

Bank transfers are nice because they don’t rely on any 3rd party services. If you choose this method, the betting site will send the money straight to your bank account. You don’t have to do anything except wait for the funds to hit your account.

This option is sometimes available in the United States, but not always. Betting sites use all sorts of different payment processors, so this one comes and goes. If it’s available, it’s the fastest and easiest way to get your money.

Neteller is an online wallet that bettors can use to receive their funds. The betting site will credit your Neteller account with the money, and then you can either withdraw that money straight to your bank account or move it to another betting site.

Other Payment Processing Methods

Each category above covers multiple deposit methods that bettors can use to fund an account at your favorite online bookmaker or sportsbook.

Be sure to see our deposit method reviews for more information on the most popular options. There, you will find more information about that method, an explanation of how it works, and a list of the best online betting sites that accept that method.

Stick with Legal Betting Sites When Depositing Real Money

The legality of online betting varies by country. In some places, online betting operates in a grey area, making it difficult to understand if it is even legal to bet online.

Always make sure to check your local laws for any restrictions before placing real money wagers online.

BettingWebsites.com strongly recommends gamblers only deposit at licensed betting sites that are regulated, legal, and reputable.

Wagering at legal and licensed betting sites, and avoiding offshore sportsbooks, is the only way to count on getting paid in a timely manner, without excessive fees and fast processing times. Doing so also ensures gamblers are paid quickly when withdrawing their winnings.