Many US players have successfully used eChecks to deposit with their favorite online poker rooms. Just as with credit card deposits, though, these payments may or may not be blocked by US banks. There's only one way to find out, and that's to sign up to a real money Texas Hold'em site and give it a shot.
- Online Poker Sites That Accept Echecks
- Online Merchants That Accept Echeck
- Stores That Accept Echeck Payments
- What Shopping Sites Accept Echeck
Depositing money at an online poker site is a pretty easy process overall, but some players may have to jump through a few more hoops than others. Different regulations and different systems contribute to a general sense of confusion among players regarding their deposit options - especially players from the United States.
One option for making a deposit that has waned in popularity over the last few years: Electronic checks. Also called echecks and instant checks, they're a quick and easy way to get money from your bank account to a poker site - assuming you can find one that takes echecks. We've identified the best-rated US poker sites still accepting echeck deposits below, along with links to detailed reviews of each site.
The number of US poker sites accepting echecks / instant checks is limited to a handful and most aren't worth playing. This page lists the best eCheck poker rooms for 2018, as well as online casinos. We do expect more USA poker rooms to start offering instant checks in the future and we will update this page once this happens.
USA Players Please Read - The only US poker site accepting eCheck / Instant Check deposits is Bet Online Poker. Join here and receive a 25% instant cash bonus on your first deposit. You can also check out our list of US poker sites accepting credit cards.
Online Poker Sites Accepting eChecks
BetOnline Poker - 25% Instant Cash Bonus for New USA Players
Bet Online is the only US poker site accepting eChecks. The poker room is backed by the BetOnline.com betting site and provides a life time guarantee bonus of 25% on all deposits. This means no matter how many times you deposit, the poker room will always give you 25% of your deposit in bonus dollars. Unlike other poker rooms, this site credits the bonus immediately.
To use the eCheck service, click on the logo within the cashier and enter the information requested. Once your eCheck deposit is approved, the funds will be applied to your player account within two hours. This method is only available for use once every seven days. The minimum deposit is $50 up to $1500.
What Exactly is an eCheck? Do I Need to Send in an Actual Check?
While online gamblers have used paper checks for quite some time as a backup deposit method (especially at sportsbooks), the echeck removes the need for a physical check. It's basically the digital equivalent of the paper check, providing all of the information that your bank needs to process the payment without requiring any physical record of the transaction.
In terms of the actual mechanics of an echeck, it works just like any other electronic funds transfer (EFT). If you've ever used a service like Bill Pay or similar to pay the cable bill directly from your checking account, then you've effectively used echecks before. There's nothing that mysterious about it; you basically give a merchant the right to deduct a certain amount from your bank account much the same way you do when you swipe your debit card at the store.
What Information Should I Need to Submit an eCheck Deposit at a Poker Room?
You should be prepared to provide your bank account number and routing number, along with accountholder information. You may need to provide a copy of your ID or some other documentation verifying your identity. This is a fairly standard request all poker rooms - not just US poker sites - make to combat fraudulent charges.
Once you provide this information, you shouldn't need to provide it again for subsequent transactions. If you'd prefer that the room not store this information, simply contact support and ask for it to be purged after each transaction. You'll have to enter all of your details each time you make a deposit, but that's a relatively minor inconvenience.
Am I Putting Myself at Risk By Depositing With eChecks?
As we say in all of our guides, engaging in any sort of financial transaction (online or off) involves some level of risk. The best policy that players can follow is to always assume this risk is valid and behave accordingly. If you're worried about the security involved in using echecks, for example, the just create an entirely separate bank account for poker purposes. If you are worried about security at a particular room, do your own research - and don't be afraid to listen to that instinct and take your action to a different room where you feel more comfortable.
How do eChecks Compete With Other Deposit Methods?
Players from the US have a lot to like about echecks, but there's one big problem: They are not a widely available deposit method. Only a handful of US online poker sites take echecks as of the time this guide was written, and that list is always in flux.
If you're not able to find a room you like that offers echecks for deposits, you're not out of options. Major US online poker sites offer players a wide range of ways to make a deposit, including major credit cards, prepaid cards, and money transfer - along with a handful of custom methods. To review your options at a given online poker room, send an email or start a chat with support. Within minutes, you'll have all of the information you need to help you to decide what your best choice is for depositing at an online poker site.
Update:This option has been predominately disabled at most poker sites because of “chargebacks” and “player fraud“. It is unfortunate because this was a great solution for US players. Please see our credit card depositing page for an easy to deposit site. This option is however available in states of NJ, DE and NV.
American poker players are finding it increasingly difficult to locate US poker sites accepting credit card deposits. While this was once a problem, it is no longer as much so thanks to eChecks taking over as the preferred banking method for online poker in the US. While not all US poker sites offer eChecks banking, the largest of them, including PokerStars, Full Tilt, and UB.com, accept this method for both deposits and withdrawals (no longer).
As a player you might not concern yourself with exactly how eCheck deposits work. For instance, all you really need to know is: your transaction is secure, and when you go to the poker sites cashier and enter your checking details and the amount you’d like to deposit, this amount is taken from your bank account and the funds are instantly available to play. On the player side, it is as simple as that. It would be helpful however if players understood how echeck deposits worked on the site’s end of things.
Online Poker Sites eChecks Deposits FAQ
Online Poker Sites That Accept Echecks
How Do Poker Sites Process eChecks?
When a player deposits at an online poker site using an eCheck, that poker site’s payment processor prints a physical check, often on plain paper, that looks much like a traditional check with the exception being the signature field. Where the check normally would have a signature the words “electronically authorized, no signature required” appear. The processor then deposits this check into their bank account and will need to wait an average of 20 business days for it to clear. The reason the wait time is so long is that checks without a signature have a higher bounce rate than traditional checks, so they are held for a longer period of time.
Do I have to wait for eCheck to clear to play online poker?
At most sites, the answer to this question is: no, the funds you deposit via eCheck will be available instantly. The reason we suggested it would be helpful if players knew how things worked on the site’s end, is so that you can be understanding of the sites “cash out restrictions”. What often frustrates players is the wait time involved when it comes to withdrawal. Most poker sites will not allow you to cash out funds until all of your deposits have fully cleared. This means if you deposit and quickly score big in a multi-table poker tournament or poker cash game, you’ll need to wait as many as 20 business days to cash out. The rules on this vary from site to site, and PokerStars.com is known for having the most liberal eCheck rules. At PokerStars, only the amount of your uncleared deposits are “cash out restricted”. Therefore, if you have winnings over the amount of your uncleared deposit, this excess amount is available for immediate cashout.
Online Merchants That Accept Echeck
What if my bank doesn’t have funds to cover the eCheck?
This is actually a common occurrence and many gamblers mistakenly think the risk of freerolling against sites with funds they don’t have is low risk. The ethics and moral issues aside, the legal implications for bouncing checks are considerable. A check is not a debt, as is the case with a secured credit card deposit, so there is no protection under the Statute of Anne that makes gambling debts unenforceable, rather a check is a payment. The crime committed for writing a bad check borders that of counterfeiting. Not only is it near certain to have a negative effect on your credit rating, there is also a chance you could be prosecuted and face larger fines, probation or imprisonment. While the risk of imprisonment is low for a single occurrence, the chance of forced restitution in excess of the deposit amount is high. If you do make a mistake, until you clear this mistake, you’ll most likely be blacklisted by online gambling sites and your ability to open future bank accounts in the US will be suspended. Yes, this is possible, and it regularly occurs as the bounced check will show up on your ChexSystems profile which is accessed each time you apply to open a bank account. If an honest situation does occur where you discover a check will bounce, you’re best advised to contact the poker site as soon as possible to have the matter resolved.
How do Poker Sites Reduce Bounced Checks Risks?
US poker sites adjust players eCheck deposit limits based on their history, considering items such as uncleared payments, deposit frequencies, etc. Accounts in good standing with a positive history can deposit more than newly registered accounts. Poker sites also generally subscribe to a fraud service such as ChexSystems. When you make a deposit, you’ll need to enter your Social Security Number (SSN) or state issued drivers license number. This information is then run to see if you have a history of owing banks money, have bounced checks before, etc. ChexSystems is not like the credit reporting agencies and there are no laws that require full disclosure. This is a private report used by bankers and check processors. What appears on your report will sometimes determine if your eCheck deposit can be improved. This is not a score based system either. As long as you have no outstanding debts to banks, nor have a history of multiple bounced checks, more than likely your eCheck deposit will be approved.
What is the Best US Poker Site of eCheck Deposits?
Stores That Accept Echeck Payments
If you’re hoping to cash out winning in excess of your deposit quickly, then PokerStars.com was the best US poker site for echeck deposits. Here, only the amount of uncleared deposits is cash out restricted (for up to 20 business days). If you plan on playing for a while and building a bankroll, then you will have to be in the lucky three (legal states).
What Shopping Sites Accept Echeck
No matter which US poker site you choose, we wish you good luck at the online poker tables.