Gambling Online With Your Bank Account: Guide & Concerns

Thankfully though, there are plenty of banks that actually do accept bank transfers and plenty of online casinos that accept bank account payments.

BetMGM, Caesars, and Golden Nugget Casino are some of the biggest online casinos that process bank transfer payments. On the flip side, Bank of America, Chase, and Goldman Sachs are some of the biggest gambling-friendly banks that typically allow users to fund their online gambling accounts directly from their bank.

Using Your Bank Account to Gamble Online

To figure out if your bank will process casino transactions, we recommend going to their website and looking through their account policies and FAQ sections. If you cannot find anything there, the next best thing to do is to go to your casino account and the cashier page.

At most online casinos, the cashier page will tell you very clearly which payment methods are accepted at that casino. In the context of banks, the bank’s logo will usually be among the many payment options listed. If you see your bank there, it probably means you’re safe to make payments from your bank account.

🥇BetMGM Casino

BetMGM is one of the biggest names in the North American gambling industry, which is why it makes sense that so many banks are willing to work with them. BetMGM Casino accepts deposits and withdrawals from most of the biggest banks in the US, like Chase and Bank of America. These banks are also very willing to work with BetMGM. If you’re in a state where online gambling is legal, you should not have many problems making payments and withdrawals at BetMGM using your bank account.

Direct bank transfers at BetMGM Casino are on the fast side, which is another big plus for this online casino. Deposits are processed within a few hours. The BetMGM Casino withdrawal times listed on their website say wire transfer withdrawals can take up to 5 business days. This is unusual though as withdrawals rarely take more than a couple of business days.

In addition to offering direct bank transfer deposit and withdrawals, BetMGM Casino accepts PayPal, eChecks, Checks, credit/debit cards, and Apple Pay.

🥈FanDuel Casino

Unlike BetMGM, FanDuel’s reputation with banks isn’t as sterling as it could be. The online casino and sportsbook has had several high-publicity clashes with banks and banking regulators over the years. Many of these clashes came during the early days of FanDuel when the company focused primarily on daily fantasy sports and was pushing the line in terms of what was legal and regulated.

Nowadays, FanDuel Casino has a much better relationship with the banking industry and allows payments using Trustly. Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo are the best bank accounts for online gambling with FanDuel Casino. We recommend steering clear of Capital One, Union Bank, and Huntington Bank though. These banks are explicitly listed on FanDuel’s website as banks likely to deny FanDuel transactions.

Besides bank transfers, FanDuel Casino also accepts most Visa and MasterCard debit/credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Venmo. You can also use prepaid FanDuel gift cards, Play+ cards, or pay by cash in-person or at nearby PayNearMe stations.

🥉Caesars Casino

Caesars is another big name online casino in the US. Like BetMGM, Caesars Casino accepts payments from pretty much every bank that will process casino transactions. Caesars uses Trustly for its direct bank transfers so Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo again are going to be reliable choices, but keep in mind that Wells Fargo’s availability varies and some users have reported issues.

Caesars Casino really stands out for their quick processing times. For deposits, this means that Caesars will try and process bank transfers in less than one hour. Caesar Casino withdrawals take much longer though unfortunately. Bank transfer requests are processed daily, which means it could be a while before Caesars even sees your withdrawal request. Once processed though, Caesars will send your money to your bank who will then take another few days to process that transaction.

You can also make withdrawals and deposits at Caesars using credit/debit cards, eCheck, PayPal, prepaid Play+ cards, and by cash/check at PayNearMe stations.

🎖️DraftKings Casino

Like FanDuel, DraftKings got its start in the world of daily fantasy and has had similar problems with banks. Thankfully though, like at FanDuel, DraftKings Casino now works with many credible banks. If you bank with Bank of America or Chase, you shouldn’t have a problem playing at DraftKings. Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and CitiGroup also should work for you in most states.

Deposit and withdrawal processing times at DraftKings are fairly standard, so don’t expect lightning fast service when making direct bank transfers. It can take up to a day for DraftKings deposits to be processed. DraftKings direct bank transfer withdrawals can take up to five business days.

Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards are popular banking alternatives you can use at DraftKings. If those options aren’t enough for you, DraftKings also accepts PayPal, eCheck, Venmo, Play+ cards, and traditional checks.

🏅Golden Nugget Casino

Golden Nugget Casino isn’t the biggest name in the online casino world, but it might be the best online casino that accepts bank account transfers. The site prides itself on allowing transactions from Chase, Bank of America, PNC Bank, Wells Fargo, and CitiGroup.

Bank deposits at Golden Nugget are extremely quick compared to the competition. Bank transfers are deposited instantly and have a max limit of $25,000 per transaction. Of course, no site is perfect so you should still expect to wait 3-4 business days when making wire transfer withdrawals at Golden Nugget Casino.

Golden Nugget Casino also accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit/debit cards, as well as prepaid Play+ cards. As for e-wallets, the casino site accepts PayPal deposits and withdrawals.

All Gambling Friendly Banks

With the fear of UIGEA sanctions, many banks have a problem with processing gambling transactions. However, and luckily for us, this is changing as things like online sports betting and legal online casinos become more and more popular throughout the US.

Some of the biggest banks in the country now process casino deposits and withdrawals with very little issues. Here are some of the biggest gambling friendly banks currently available in the US:

• Chase
• Bank of America
• Citigroup
• Goldman Sachs
• PNC
• HSBC
• Santander
• TD Bank
• Wells Fargo

Most of the banks listed above have changed their policies in recent years to allow for easy banking transactions with online casinos. Some banks, such as Wells Fargo, are still working out the kinks and have yet to adopt a nationwide policy. Besides bigger banks, we are also seeing many small credit unions give online gambling the green stamp. If you bank with a regional bank or credit union, it’s worth asking about their casino policies.

Casinos are just one side of the coin. Some online casinos may not deal with specific banks, even if those banks would usually allow direct bank transfers with casinos. In the worst case scenario, an online casino will accept deposits from the bank but not allow withdrawals. This is why you should always check in with your online casino to see if they actually accept your bank.

We recommend double-checking with your bank as well about their online casino policy. This is a rapidly changing issue in the world of banking, so be on the lookout for news related to your bank’s casino policy.

Best Bank Account for Online Gambling

There are so many gambling friendly banks, but only one can be the best. In our opinion, that one is Bank of America.

Bank of America is the best bank account for online gambling in the US. This financial institution is regularly listed among the most trusted banks in America. With respect to online gambling specifically, Bank of America is one of the most consistent banks you can find in the industry.

Bank of America treats transactions at legal online casinos in the US like most other transactions. This means you can expect quick processing times, limited procedural hangups, and an overall convenient experience.

Keep in mind though, Bank of America only provides this ease-of-use if you’re gambling at a legal online casino. If you’re trying to use an offshore casino or live in a state where online gambling is illegal, you may still have some problems.

Why Doesn’t My Bank Support Gambling Payments?

Where there’s big business, banks are there to take a cut. This is one of the major truths of the US economy. Online gambling appears to be the one big business that is an exception to this rule.

As we’ve discussed above, many online banks still prohibit transactions to and from online casinos. The reasons behind this are very complicated but also simple at the same time. The short answer is that banks are afraid of getting in trouble with the federal government. The long answer is why the banks are so afraid of the federal government.

Unlike many jurisdictions around the world, the US has adopted a very strict anti-online-gambling policy. This is reflected by the 2006 UIGEA we’ve mentioned a few times above. This law made it illegal for online gambling operators to serve states where online gambling is illegal. It also created ramifications for companies working with those operators.

The UIGEA and the several laws passed before it targeting things like money laundering, tax evasion, and organized crime have done a great job of scaring banks away from dealing with online casinos.

Whether this will change is still up in the air. Companies like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are pushing for change, but that might not come until the federal government updates its online gambling laws.

Bank Accounts You Can Not Use For Online Gambling

Many banks have turned the tide recently when it comes to online gambling and now accept online transactions. However, many are still holding firm and continue to prohibit casino transactions.

Out of the big banks, Capital One is the most significant bank still to prohibit transactions with online casinos. Smaller banks, such as Union Bank and Huntington Bank, are also notable for refusing to work with online casinos. Wells Fargo is another that you might have some problems with in some states, but they tend to be more on the pro-online-casino side.

No matter who you bank with, be sure to check their policies or even reach out to their customer service before you try to link your account to an online casino.

How to Make Online Casino Deposits with Bank Account

Once you know that your bank accepts casino transactions, actually sending money to and from your bank and online casino is a very easy process.

You will need your bank account number, your bank’s routing number, and your phone or email on hand. You need these things because you need to link your bank account to the online casino.

This is usually as easy as selecting the bank transfer option in the cashier page, entering your bank information, and entering the amount you want to deposit into your account. Some banks will require an additional security step and send a code to your phone number or email address. If that happens, just follow the instructions provided by your bank.

If you follow these steps and it still doesn’t work, double check your account number and bank’s routing number. If you’re sure you didn’t make a typo, we recommend you get a hold of your bank and see if they are blocking the transaction for some other reason.

If you’re successful in linking your account, the process in the future will be as easy as entering the amount you want to deposit and hitting confirm.

Withdrawing Casino Winnings to Bank Account

Linking your bank account to your casino also makes the withdrawal process very easy. If you haven’t done this before you go to make your first withdrawal, follow the same steps listed above using your bank account number and bank’s routing number.

If you have made a successful deposit, you just need to select direct bank transfer, select your bank account, and enter the amount you want to withdraw. It’s normally that easy, but unfortunately some banks and casinos require additional steps before making withdrawals.

Do not be surprised if your casino asks you to provide some form of identification or if your bank takes an extra long time processing your first withdrawal.

Is this Gambling Banking Method Safe?

Direct bank transfers are the safest method to move money to and from your casino account. They are usually protected by the same world-class data protection technologies your bank uses to keep your bank account safe.

Additionally, if you’re gambling at one of the many online casinos that accept bank account transfers, it’s likely the bank has their own encryption system in place.

Will My Bank Charge Fees for Gambling Payments?

One of the major downsides to using direct bank transfers are the fees involved. Most online casinos won’t charge you fees for using direct bank transfers, but banks and other payment processors will.

Fees come in the form of either a flat-rate fee or a percentage fee. If you’re going to use direct bank transfers, it’s worth looking at your bank’s plan to know just how much of a cut they will be taking. It’s also worth keeping in mind that flat-fees sometimes change depending on how much you’re withdrawing.

How Long Will Payments Take?

Direct bank transfers are by far the most secure payment method available at online casinos. Unfortunately, it’s also almost always the slowest banking option offered at online casinos.

Deposits using debit/credit cards and e-wallets are usually processed instantly and almost never take more than 24 hours. Meanwhile, direct bank transfer deposits often take at least two hours to process. Depending on the online casino, bank deposits can even take up to three business days.

Withdrawals using direct bank deposits are even slower. It’s very common for bank withdrawals to take anywhere between 2-7 business days. If you aren’t worried about getting your money quickly, this obviously isn’t a problem, but these long withdrawal times could be a deal breaker for people who want their cash quickly.

Pros & Cons of Gambling with Bank Account

✅Pros

• Extremely safe: Direct bank transfers are the most secure banking option offered at online casinos
• Good for high-rollers: Direct bank transfers have higher limits meaning you can make bigger deposits and withdrawals than with other banking options.
• Easy-to-use: Once you get over the hurdle of making sure your bank actually accepts online casino transactions, making deposits and withdrawals is very easy.
• Versatile: Bank transfers are one of the few banking options that are almost always available for both deposits and withdrawals.

❌Cons

• Limited availability: Many online casinos don’t accept bank account transfers, and many banks won’t process online casino transactions.
• Higher minimum deposit and withdrawal requirements: Many online casinos will set higher deposit and withdrawal requirements for direct bank transfers.
• Long wait times: Deposits using bank transfers can take anywhere between 2 hours to 3 business days. Withdrawals can take between 2-7 business days to be processed.
• Transaction fees: Most online casinos won’t charge transaction fees for direct bank transfers, but your bank almost always will. Policies vary, so check with your bank.

Alternative Payment Options for Online Gambling

As unfortunate as it’s that many banks aren’t gambling friendly banks, the huge number of alternative options means you will still be able to gamble at most online casinos in the US.

The most popular payment method at online casinos in the US are credit and debit cards. However, this payment method usually suffers from the same pitfalls that direct bank transfers do. A lot of banks won’t let you use your debit/credit card at online casinos. This is especially true if you’re trying to use your credit card. A lot of banks consider credit card deposits at casinos as cash-advances, which banks are strict about. For example, Chase specifically lists casino transactions as a type of transaction that would break their cash-advance policy.

Thanks to e-wallets, you can still use your card or bank account to fund your online gambling. Popular e-wallets, like PayPal, are secure ways to send your money to and from your bank account and then to and from your online casino account. E-wallets are a little less convenient, but they make up for that with their speed. E-wallet transactions are almost always able to be processed instantly. In addition to PayPal, other popular e-wallets in the US include Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, and Trustly.

Tips for Selecting the Best Online Casino Accepting Bank Account Payments

Selecting the best online casino accepting bank account payments is really something only you can do. If you prefer fast payout casinos, somewhere like BetMGM might be for you. On the other hand, fast deposits and high limits might make Golden Nugget Casino a good choice.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that banking options are just one of the many factors to consider when choosing an online casino. You also want to look into the types of games, key features, bonuses, casino apps, reputation, and more.