eCheck vs. Visa Credit

As you explore online casino sites to join, you’re always looking for things that interest you the most. You check out the game selection to see which titles and by which developers are available. You look for bonus offers, promotions and tournaments you can participate in to boost your winnings. But most importantly, you make sure the casino you’re eyeing offers payment method options that you could use, depending on the country you’re from.

Not all payment methods are available globally. Some are limited to players from one or more specific countries, others are accepted all over the globe. In this opportunity, we will present to you two globally used solutions that you would probably find at any site you’re exploring, eCheck and VISA. Why use eCheck or VISA across online casino sites?

eCheck vs. VISA – Introduction

eCheck and VISA are both globally-available payment methods, as introduced. But that’s not the only thing they share. They are also both solutions that function in collaboration with banks, to make online payments smooth and safe. They both provide high levels of security and are used by players that have no issue sharing their banking details with the online casino they’re joining. The thing is, even though quite similar in these aspects, there’s a major distinction between the two. They are different types of payment methods.

eCheck is an electronic check…

…as you could conclude by its name. And as such, it works pretty much the same way as normal, paper checks do. If you’re a millennial, you probably have no idea how paper checks work, as they are rarely used in everyday life these days, and much less than back in the day. But if you’ve ever used a paper check, you’ll know how to use eCheck, as they function the same way, only over the internet.

As you would assume…

…eCheck is a payment method directly tied with banks. Without a bank involved, it would have no value. This means that you need to have a bank account, with any bank, in order to get started with it and use it across online casinos. The bank would need to authorize and clear it so that you can make a deposit with it. That, in turn, means that you would need to share your online banking details with the operator. But, that doesn’t mean that your details are exposed to third-parties. eCheck is actually one of the safest ways to fund your online casino account, as it can never be used by third-parties. You’ll be the one confirming it and your bank will only clear it after you’ve properly identified yourself and gone through the two-factor authentication protocol.

You should know…

…that in addition to your bank, there will be other financial institutions involved in the transferring process, as the check needs to be checked, verified and cleared, and that takes some time. That means that deposits with it won't be instant, like with most modern payment methods. Deposits with it would take 3 to 5 days, meaning even though you request a deposit today, it won't arrive on your online casino account sooner than three days. The background procedure involved takes a while, but on the other hand, it also gives you the sense of security that you need when it comes to your money. With eCheck, your money is handled the safest way possible, so if you’d prefer quality over speed, make sure you stay with us to learn how to use it.

VISA is a world-renowned card…

…which is also directly tied to banks. You must have one, or at least had one issued at least once in your life. That’s because it is one of the most popular, most well-reputed brands that issue all kinds of credit, debit, prepaid, corporate, gift and virtual cards. Its diverse range of products is what makes it such a prominent name in the financial world, but so is its remarkable track record.

Launched for the first time back in 1958…

…this is also one of the oldest, longest-standing brands offering its services all across the globe. There’s virtually no land-based or online store or platform that doesn’t accept it as a payment solution. As far as country eligibility goes, even though launched in the US, it is now a solution available in most, if not all, countries across the globe.

When it comes to online casinos…

…VISA is, without a doubt, one of the most available solutions across these sites. That’s guaranteed. Considering it has partnered with so many banks, governments, companies and other financial institutions, it is super-convenient for users to use for their everyday purchases, payments and online casino transactions. And since most, if not all, banks in the world issue cards on its behalf, it is the most suited solution to offer to international players. That’s why almost all casino operators are offering it to their players, except those which cannot use it due to country legislation and restrictions. For instance, operators accepting players from the UK or Germany cannot offer the credit card to their players, as these countries have banned gambling with credit cards on their market.

Getting Started

To get started with either of these solutions is very simple. The truth is, all you need as a pre-condition is to have a bank account active at any bank that issues them. As long as you do, you’re good to go.

Getting started with eCheck…

…would not involve a lot of action on your side. You would just need to log in at the online platform that you want to pay at, in this case, an online casino, and you'd have to provide your bank account details. This is when you'll set in motion the background procedure we mentioned earlier, which involves your bank and other financial institutions. But, you won't need to do anything else. All you're left to do after you provide the necessary details is wait for the eCheck to be cleared by the appropriate institutions.

The process you set in motion…

…involves your bank and two other financial institutions. First, after you provide your banking details, an intermediary, an institution that processes the details into useful data, such as Authorize.net, does its part. After the data is ready, it is sent to the second financial institution, the Automated Clearing House Network. This is the party that checks whether the data is legit, and verifies it before it sends it to your bank. After the bank goes through it and sees that everything is in order, it clears the eCheck. That means that your funds are ready to be used.

To get started with VISA…

…you would have to, as you would assume, visit your bank. You would have to fill out an application with the basic personal info and provide your bank account details. Then, you'd have to select the card you want to apply for, as well as documents, which would count as proof of income and address. Complete the application, and submit it. The bank will take some time to review and approve your application, and process your card before you can claim it.

You can either have the card…

…sent to your home address, or you can go directly to your bank and claim it there. Whichever suits you. Nevertheless, the card will arrive in an envelope containing security codes you’ll further need for authentication. Keep those codes safe, as you’ll really need them. And that’s it. You have your card and you can start using it whenever you want.

Depositing and Withdrawing

As you could see, getting started was really easy. But how about depositing and withdrawing with these two methods across online casino sites? The same thing happens. All you need to do is follow a few simple and intuitive steps and you’ll be able to fund your account and cash out your winnings without much effort.

To use eCheck for deposits…

…you would, of course, have to find an online casino that accepts it. When you do, sign up or log in at the casino, and go directly to its Deposit/Cashier/Banking page.

1. Look for eCheck’s logo and tap or click on it.
2. Enter the required details in the new window.
3. Specify how much you wish to deposit.
4. Confirm the transaction.
5. The money will arrive on your casino account in 3 to 5 days.

Withdrawals with it are just as easy…

…as you need to go through the same procedure, basically, with one difference. Instead of going to the Deposit page, you’ll need to go to the Withdrawals page and find eCheck’s logo there. Repeat the same procedure, this time stating how much you wish to withdraw, and wait for the money to arrive on your account. The great thing with eCheck is that online casino players prefer using it for withdrawals, as they don’t mind waiting for their winnings to reach their bank accounts as much as they do for deposits. While players are anxious about starting to play as soon as possible, they’re not that worried about when their winnings would arrive on their bank accounts. So, withdrawals with eCheck are quite popular across online casinos.

You know how to deposit with VISA…

…because it is just like using it for online shopping or any other payment you’ve made with your credit card. You just need to sign up or log in at a casino that accepts it and visit its Banking/Cashier page.

1. As soon as you see VISA’s logo, click or tap on it.
2. A new window will open.
3. Enter your name, the card’s number, the CCV2 code and the card’s expiry date.
4. Specify how much you wish to deposit.
5. Confirm the transaction and start playing casino games instantly!

VISA is the best, as it allows for instant deposits. That's why we said that it was as easy to deposit with it as it was to shop online with it. The funds are processed in real-time, and that's the beauty in this payment solution.

Cashing out your winnings with it…

…would involve the very same process, of course, the only difference being specifying how much you wish to withdraw instead of deposit. Now, you should be ready to wait for a few days for the money to arrive on your card, hence your bank account. VISA would need time to process it, which takes 1 to 3 days, plus the casino needs to check whether you have any wagering requirements left unmet, so in total, they should land on your account in up to five working days.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The benefits you get for…

…using both eCheck and VISA are many. First of all, with both, you can rest assured that your money would be perfectly secure, as they both implement high-end measures and the latest technologies to keep your money safe. Secondly, they are both easy to get started with and use across online casinos, and they are available for both deposits and withdrawals. Add to that the fact that they are so convenient as you don’t need to meet any strict pre-conditions to use them, they are global solutions, and they are available across so many online casino sites, and you’ve got yourself two perfectly decent solutions to use.

On the other hand…

…they both come with downsides. The major disadvantage which the two share is the fact that it takes some time for the withdrawals to reach your account. With VISA you get instant deposits, but with eCheck, even deposits take 3 to 5 days. Plus, when using both, you need to share your banking details with your operator, which is not something online casino players want to do. VISA also comes with fees, so the speedy deposits come with a price.

And in some jurisdictions…

…credit cards are not accepted for gambling purposes, like the UK and Germany that we mentioned earlier. But in others, they are more than welcome. In fact, there are some markets which accept both VISA and eCheck, so you can use them as it suits you, like in Denmark. These two are among the most suited options for the Danish players. So, look at all the pros and cons of the two, and choose the one that would work for you best. Whichever you choose, you won’t make a mistake.