A guide to using prepaid cards and vouchers at online casinos

Kevin Flynn of PayGamble.com takes us through the most popular payment methods and what they are most commonly used for.

Prepaid cards are payment cards that have money stored directly on them. Unlike debit or credit cards, they’re not linked to any external account. Therefore, punters can only use the money on the card to play games. If the card’s monetary value runs out, they can buy another card.

Below are the most popular prepaid cards and vouchers that you can use at online casinos:

Paysafecard

Paysafecard has long been hailed as one of the safest and most dependable payment solutions for online gaming. This is thanks to its ease of use and high level of security. Paysafecard’s voucher contains a 16-digit PIN code used to make deposits into your gaming account. Though you purchase the voucher at a retail shop, you can always access the online account to view the balance of your prepaid card.

Neosurf

Neosurf is another safe and reliable prepaid card you can use online. You can purchase it at different retail stores. The prepaid card is available in major online gambling markets, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States.

Visa and Mastercard prepaid cards

Both payment providers are famous for their credit and debit cards. However, they also have one-off and reloadable prepaid cards. These prepaid options appeal to players because of their low fees and how safe they are to use.

Using prepaid cards or vouchers for deposits at online casinos is very simple. Here are the steps to follow:

Buy your voucher from a physical location

The first thing you need to do is purchase your card or voucher. Prepaid cards are widely available in grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail outlets. You can also buy them via various banks and credit unions, as well as online.

If you buy the card online, you may get a virtual card or a physical card via mail. You’ll need to pay for the card itself and for how much you wish to add to it.

For voucher-based methods like Paysafecard, you get a voucher with a pin. The numbers that make up your PIN depend on the payment method. For instance, Paysafecard’s voucher has a 16-digit pin, while Neosurf’s has 10.

Register at an online casino that accepts prepaid cards

Once you have purchased your prepaid card, you need to find an online casino that supports the payment method. You can do this by reading comprehensive reviews on trustworthy sites. Once you have found a site that suits your needs, you can register in a few minutes.

Start by visiting the site using an internet-enabled device. Then, click the appropriate option to create an account. Following the onscreen instructions, fill in the necessary details in the designated field and submit the form. Some online casinos might send you a link via email, which you must click to confirm your account.

Make your deposit

Once you have an active account, you can make a deposit. To do this, navigate to the cashier and select the "deposit" option. From the list of payment methods, choose any of the prepaid cards you have. Enter the card’s details or voucher pin in the necessary fields.

Once you complete your deposit, the funds should reflect in your gambling account within a few minutes. Then, you can claim the welcome bonus, if there is one, and play games for real money.

Using prepaid cards for withdrawals

Unfortunately, due to the nature of prepaid cards and vouchers, you can’t use them to withdraw from an online casino. We recommend opting for other safe payment methods like credit and debit cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets. Keep in mind that these payment providers might charge a small fee for withdrawals.

These payment methods have a long list of advantages, which is why they are quite common in the online gambling industry. However, there are also a few downsides that you should note. Here are the pros and cons of using a prepaid card at online casinos.

Pros

• Widely available: There are different types of prepaid cards and voucher-based payment methods you can choose from. So, you won't have a problem getting one you can use to play at an online casino.
• Mobile friendly: Prepaid card providers have mobile applications that you can use to monitor your transactions.
• Safe to use: These payment methods are one of the safest for online gambling. That's because you won't have to reveal any other financial details besides that of the prepaid card.
• Fixed Spending: One of the perks of using prepaid cards and vouchers is that you can control how much you spend at an online casino. These cards aren't linked to your bank account, so you can use only the cash loaded on the card to play casino games.

Cons

• Low Limits: Prepaid cards have low deposit limits. So, it's not a suitable payment method for high rollers.
• No withdrawals: While you can use these payment options to deposit, you can't use them to withdraw. This means you must seek an alternative when it's time to cash out your winnings.
• Limited bonuses: Some online casinos will limit you from claiming bonuses with a prepaid card deposit. In such a case, you must use another payment method to deposit if you want to claim the offer.

Prepaid cards can be a practical and safe alternative to other payment methods. They are easy to purchase and use. However, players need to be aware they cannot use them to withdraw any winnings from an online casino.