Let’s talk about the experience we have with real-world scenarios
Banks hate gambling in foreign markets online because it’s among the riskiest of card transactions. Also, the risk managers are aware of addictive behaviour. Some clients who are sore losers may fraudulently claim someone stole their information and used the card without their permission. Financial Institutions prefer secure transactions with known accredited organizations that are fast and trackable. Lenders and card issuers cringe when a Canadian wagers on a suspicious bet or card game. While that doesn’t make any party involved in something unethical or illegal, it can make the card issuer’s security department take a second look before they approve a transaction!
Things You Want To Know
- Debit Cards have almost no way of refunding real money to the account holder unless the product or service was not delivered as promised or the transaction was fraudulent or not authorized as intended. This must be proven through written statements or a voice recording of an authorization.
- Credit Cards transactions are easier to dispute. Since it’s hard to prove a player’s claim, the financial institutions and Gaming Organizations may be less inclined to take high-stakes-bets with a personal credit card. In contrast, they would gladly accept a large bet from another source.
Many card issuers will only allow prepaid cards to be used for online gambling to mitigate their risk. Read the directions on their websites.
Although intermediary accounts are acceptable, we don’t recommend having a gambling host’s processing company run the card in Canada, the United States, or the United Kingdom for anything other than wagering to fund an account online with a casino or sportsbook! The problems that arise are too numerous even to discuss.
You’ll most likely be paying between 10-25% extra cash on most credit cards unless you have a plan that allows you 0% interest if your bill is paid in full within 30 days. Credit cards make money on the interest and merchant processing fees, and debit cards usually profit from merchant service fees
How Safe Is It to the Player?
If you play in your host country or on a website approved by the credit/debit card and banking establishment rules, you’re well protected from fraudulent charges.
You may also get rewards such as cashback or discounts towards things other than gambling to use a preferred card as part of a promotional package. It depends on who you’re dealing with and how much the card company values your business.
Keep in mind that entertainment and travel are a large part of the credit industry, and there are serious incentives to get people to spend money. Sometimes by being a V.I.P. or a preferred customer, you can get free bonuses and or spins at an iGaming site as well as matches for high-rollers. It’s to your advantage to look into this. You usually have to ask for it to receive the benefit.
Almost all gaming establishments accept: Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, and most will gladly take Amex and Diners Club. Sometimes the merchant may make you pay the processing fee as an extra add-on, but they mostly absorb the cost directly.
There are minimal downsides to using bank cards, except that there’s a record of your charges for wagering. Also, your winnings can take up to four days to post to your account, depending on the card’s policy and the establishment that hosts the site. You’re also limited to approved sites and countries as to where and how you may wager. That could be especially hard if you live in another country outside of Canada that doesn’t approve of wagering. If that’s the case, then it would be best to hide your activities by getting an intermediary account to fund, spend, and deposit to.