How to make a deposit to an online casino for US players.

I've been asked to write an article about how to make deposits to online casinos from the US. Personally, I've found that Western Union works best these days. I also recently purchased some dubious gift cards, which I used to make a deposit.

However, I'm interested in the recent experiences of other US players. Feel free to PM me if this is something you would rather not discuss in public. I am open to paying for good information.

The question for the poll is which method do you find the most convenient, as a US player?

The few times that I have played online recently I have only used CC. The times I played were because I was bored. If I had to drive somewhere for western union then I might as well go to a real casino.

I just had a bad experience with Western Union.
It has nothing to do with online casinos or gambling.
I will never ever use Western Union again.
This is regarding their money orders.
I recently bought 7 WU money orders.
I should have bought US Post Office money orders. Now I know better.
Anyway my 7 money orders were for 9.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 191.00 191.00 191.00.
The pay to order field is "GDTS TOO"
I filled them out, kept the receipts and mailed them out.
They were never cashed and mailed back to me.
So I go to the WU outlet at my Super Market with my receipts and original money orders to get a refund.
They don't refund.
If I bought US post office money orders, they do refund them at place of purchase, post office.
Anyway I was directed to call a number about refund instructions.
WU charges 15.00 per money order to refund.
The procedure is you mail them 15 bucks with each money order and a couple months you get a check.
That's 90 dollars and I throw away my 9 buck money order.
I call the regular WU 800 help number.
They refuse to answer any questions regarding money orders and direct you to the Money order help number.
That number is simply a menu of recordings , cant get a real person, just recorded instructions regarding the 15.00 fee per money order to refund.
I go to my bank to see if I can deposit.
I heard some banks may let you deposit if you sign the back and print "not used for intended purpose"
My bank said no because my name is not in the pay to order field.
I go to a check cashing place, they ask to see my ID and look at the money orders and receipts.
They cash them all for a 40 dollar fee as long as I sign the back and print "not used for intended purpose"

I later learned WU has taken some huge hits in the past regarding their money orders and fraud. Therefore they charge the 15.00 fee per order to refund.

I'm not sure if this works any more, as I have heard horror stories about Americans overseas being hassled over foreign bank accounts, but back in the early 1990s, I had a checking account with a bank on the Isle of Jersey in the UK's Channel Islands. (My account was in British currency, but they also offered US dollar accounts.) I had no problem sending them checks in dollars, and I don't think they charged any foreign transaction fee. I don't see why gamblers can't use an account like that for their overseas gambling accounts.

As a matter of fact, here is the bank. It sounds shady, but if you report any interest earned to the IRS, they won't particularly care about it. The main problem might be, there may be a sizable minimum amount you need to keep in the account.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

I'm not sure if this works any more, as I have heard horror stories about Americans overseas being hassled over foreign bank accounts, ...

Things may have been different in the early 90s, but I can testify to the difficulty of Americans getting foreign bank accounts now. If you don't have a million dollars or more, then the best you'll probably get is a bank near insolvency desperate for deposits from anybody.

I like using credit cards, like Bovada and others allow you to do.

Western Union sucks.