What risks do prepaid cards have?

Prepaid cards have far less risk than traditional credit/debit cards, plus you never have to reveal your financial or personal information to a 3 rd party. The only serious risk you have is the amount stored on the card, but the limit on prepaid cards is fairly low so you don’t stand to lose thousands in the event of losing the card details, or theft, fraud, etc.

What is the best-prepaid card for an online casino?

A lot depends on where you are located, as not all prepaid cards and vouchers are available in all countries. The casino you plan to play at, will also determine what is the best-prepaid card for you as they may not for example support Neosurf. Another consideration is the amount you want to gamble as some prepaid cards have low limits of about €250, whereas others can be up to €1,000. Your best bet to ensure ease of availability and use and support is VISA or MasterCard prepaid cards.

Can I withdraw my winnings to my prepaid card?

Unfortunately, not! This is probably the biggest drawback of using prepaid cards for casinos. You will have to use a different payment method for withdrawals, such as an eWallet like Skrill. Alternatively, you can request a bank transfer, but this takes a few days and there are usually fees, especially if it’s a cross-border payment.

How do I get a bonus with a prepaid card?

This all depends on the casino. There are certain prepaid cards that won’t qualify you for a bonus. On the other hand, some casinos have exclusive offers for using certain cards. You will need to check what your favourite casino offers.

Can I withdraw from the Casino to an eWallet?

The general rule in the casino world is you can only withdraw to the same method used to make the original deposit. If you deposited with an eWallet, the casino will process the withdrawal back to the same eWallet account.

Best Prepaid Cards for Online casino

When it comes to online casinos, you want to focus on enjoying your gaming and hopefully winning. However, being able to transact securely and with ease is a key part of the overall user experience. There are many different payment methods accepted by casinos, and Prepaid Cards are super popular thanks to fast and secure deposits.

Let’s explore more about prepaid cards for online casinos and some of the biggest and best-prepaid cards that you may want to consider.

By Manuel

March 5, 2024 5 min read

What is a Prepaid Card?

Prepaid cards are essentially like a voucher in that there is a preloaded amount that can be spent. However, not all prepaid cards are created equal. There are physical cards and virtual cards.

The physical cards resemble regular credit or debit cards, and many are even issued by VISA, MasterCard, and AMEX. These cards/vouchers can be obtained at a variety of land-based stores, including convenience stores, supermarkets, post offices, and more. They come in rechargeable and once-off variations.

The rechargeable cards can be topped up at any of the locations that sell them, plus some providers even allow you to top up online either through their website or app. The single-use prepaid cards are pre-loaded with an amount and once the balance is depleted, they cannot be topped up.

Virtual prepaid cards are exactly as the name implies. Instead of getting a physical card, you are supplied with the relevant card details digitally. Virtual cards also come in single-use and reloadable. Virtual cards can be purchased online with a variety of payment methods.

It is important to note that you can only deposit into your casino account with a prepaid card, and withdrawals will have to be made to another payment method, such as a bank account.

Why Choose a Prepaid Card?

There are many reasons why casino players choose prepaid cards, including:

Security – Prepaid cards do not have any personal information on them or assigned to them, nor are they linked to your bank account, so your personal details are never revealed like a regular credit or debit card. Some prepaid cards also offer 2FA (two-factor authentication) for additional security.
Convenience – Most online casinos support prepaid cards, especially those issued by MasterCard, VISA, PaySafeCard, and others. This makes this type of payment method extremely convenient, especially in regions where credit cards are often rejected by payment processors.
Manage Spending – It can be easy to lose track of how much you are spending with a credit card or eWallet, especially if you have large limits or balances in your account. Prepaid cards are an ideal way to manage how much you spend on gambling, as you can only spend what is loaded on the card. Sure, you can reload but if you set a budget, then you know once the card balance is spent, you are still within your spending limits.
Instant Payments – Just like most other payment methods, prepaid card payments are instant, so you can start playing at your chosen online casino within minutes.
Availability – Prepaid cards can be acquired from hundreds of thousands of physical stores and locations, as well as online.

How to Deposit with Casino Prepaid Cards?

The process of depositing at the casino with a prepaid card is intuitive and fast. The steps might vary slightly depending on the card or service you use, but here are the general steps:

Have your prepaid card (voucher) details ready.
Log into your casino account and go to the cashier.
Select the appropriate prepaid card option.
Enter the card or voucher details (typically a 16-digit code – like a credit card number) and the amount you wish to deposit.
Check all the details and submit. You may be asked for a 2FA security code if you have a 2FA setup.
Wait for the transaction to be approved and your casino account balance to update.

Prepaid Card Fees and Limits

While we would all like to have no fees, unfortunately, there are various fees you should be aware of, as well as limits. The fees and limits charged will vary depending on the provider, here are some of the general fees you may incur:

Activation fee – This is an initial fee for activating the card. Some providers are free but many charge a few euros, and possibly a transaction percentage based on the amount you load onto the card.
Monthly fee – With many prepaid cards, there is a monthly fee charged, and or an inactivity fee that is automatically deducted from the card balance. While this is usually negligible, if you don’t use the card regularly, these fees can eat into your balance.
Transaction fees – In general, prepaid card providers and casinos do not charge any transaction fees if the card currency is the same as what you are depositing into the casino.
Exchange rates – If your prepaid card is in a currency different from what you plan on depositing, you will more than likely incur a 2-3% forex exchange fee.
ATM fees – If you are using a prepaid card that supports ATM withdrawals, there will be fees charged on all ATM transactions including just checking your balance.
Top-up fees – There are fees for adding or topping up your funds on the card, usually a percentage of the transaction value. This can be a double-edged sword because if you use a credit card to fund your prepaid card, you could end up paying fees for both.

Safety and Security

All payment methods have their vulnerabilities and strengths. In recent years, almost all payment methods from credit cards to eWallets, prepaid cards, and others have similar additional security measures.

What is most interesting is that credit and debit cards are the most widely used yet have inherent flaws that make them more vulnerable than other less popular payment methods. One major issue is that once your card and personal details are shared with a merchant, it is possible for that information to be shared or leaked.

In the case of prepaid cards, they have a small enhancement which is that the card doesn’t have any of your personal information associated with it. This means that you don’t need to share sensitive personal details with a merchant and can transact anonymously. When you enable 2FA with a prepaid card, you will have a far more secure payment option.

Finally, some of the prepaid card providers have an app (or through their site) which lets you manage your card, see your balance, top up, get notifications, and you can disable the card anytime to prevent unauthorized use.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Casino Prepaid Cards

“You can’t have your cake and eat it,”, well, the same applies to prepaid cards and vouchers for a casino. Here are some of the pros and cons to keep in mind:

Advantages

Safe and secure
Widely accepted by online casinos and betting sites
Privacy as your personal sensitive data is not needed
Can only spend what is loaded

Disadvantages

Withdrawals to a prepaid card from the casino are not possible
Inconvenience of having to buy new cards or top-up
Some casinos do not offer bonuses for certain prepaid card deposits
Often low transaction limits

The Most Popular eWallets

In the competitive space of online payments, there are a variety of eWallets to choose from. Here will explore some of the most popular eWallets.

Neteller – Established over 20 years ago, Neteller is one of the oldest, most well-known, and widely accepted payment options with online casinos. Neteller is available in more than 180 countries and supports almost 20 different currencies. Most importantly, Neteller is a reliable and reputable company backed by a solid and licensed British company.
Skrill – Another leader when it comes to eWallets is Skrill. Formerly known as Moneybookers, the company has also been around for over 2 decades. Skrill is very similar to Neteller in how it works but Skrill supports more currency options.
PayPal – PayPal certainly needs no introduction and is the pioneer of online payments. While PayPal is accepted in 200 countries and supports 25+ different currencies, it is not that widely accepted by casinos.
EcoPayz – While not as popular as the above options, EcoPayz provides an excellent eWallet service in 45+ currencies. EcoPayz has also been around for 20+ years and is known for its low credit card transaction fees.
WebMoney – WebMoney is another very popular eWallet for gambling sites. WebMoney is not as widely supported as some of the big names mentioned and it is restricted to certain countries.
InstaDebit – This growing brand has become increasingly popular in recent years and is a fast, safe and convenient eWallet for all your online gambling.

The Most Popular Casino Prepaid Cards

Paysafecard

Paysafecard (yes, all small letters), is an ecash payment provider that is owned by Paysafe Group. They have been around since 2000, which makes them veterans when it comes to online transactions. They have a presence in over 60 countries, plus Paysafe Group also owns the eWallet giants Neteller and Skrill.

paysafecard is one of the most popular prepaid cards supported by online casinos. It works on a voucher system, and these can be bought at over 650,000 locations across the world, and online. You are issued a code, which you would then use with the casino cashier. The voucher codes do not expire, but there is a monthly fee for inactivity. There is also a paysafecard app that lets you monitor and manage your payments, as well as find the closest resellers to you.

VISA/MasterCard Prepaid Cards

Names like VISA and MasterCard certainly do not need an introduction. These behemoths in the payment processing world also offer prepaid cards.

You have surely seen gift cards with the VISA or MasterCard logo on them. These are essentially prepaid debit cards. You simply buy one at any store for the value you want. Then, use it like a credit card online until the funds run out. Be aware that these once-off cards generally have about a $500 limit.

If you want a reloadable option, there is the VISA Vanilla prepaid card, which can be topped up and provides higher transaction limits. One major benefit of using big brand cards like these and Amex prepaid cards is that you will still qualify for casino bonuses.

CashtoCode

CashtoCode is an interesting offering that is somewhat different from the ones mentioned already. This eVoucher system works as follows. You go to the casino cashier and select the CashtoCode option, you enter the amount you want to deposit, and the system will generate a barcode for you.

Then, you go to any of the 28,000+ PayPoint branches, present your voucher, and pay for it. You can pay with cash. As soon as you have paid, the funds will be debited to your casino account. The biggest downside to CashtoCode is you have to go to a store; plus the maximum deposit you can make is £250.

Neosurf

Neosurf works in a similar way to paysafecard. You can buy a Neosurf voucher from thousands of land-based retailers (depending on where you live) or online. You are issued a 10-digit code which you enter when making your casino deposit.

Neosurf was founded in 2004 with the primary aim of letting customers pay online without the need for a credit card or disclosing personal information. Neosurf has its headquarters in France and is a licensed payments provider in the EU and Finland.

EcoVoucher from EcoPayz

EcoPayz has been around for over 2 decades and is very well known and accepted in the online gambling industry. They have various solutions and have won numerous awards.

EcoPayz is most well-known for its eWallet, however, they also offer EcoVoucher that works similarly to Neosurf and paysafecard. The biggest challenge you will have is the limited number of locations to purchase vouchers from.

Summary

Prepaid casino cards are a fast, convenient, and simple way to deposit money into your casino account. There are various options available, but they all aim to provide a safe and secure way to transact without the need to reveal your personal information. Above, we have explored some of the most popular prepaid cards that can be used for gambling, but there are many others. The major downside of these cards is that you cannot withdraw from your casino account to the card. Despite this drawback, many people prefer prepaid cards and their reliability.

Prepaid Card FAQs

What risks do prepaid cards have?: Prepaid cards have far less risk than traditional credit/debit cards, plus you never have to reveal your financial or personal information to a 3^rd party. The only serious risk you have is the amount stored on the card, but the limit on prepaid cards is fairly low so you don’t stand to lose thousands in the event of losing the card details, or theft, fraud, etc.
What is the best-prepaid card for an online casino?: A lot depends on where you are located, as not all prepaid cards and vouchers are available in all countries. The casino you plan to play at, will also determine what is the best-prepaid card for you as they may not for example support Neosurf.

Another consideration is the amount you want to gamble as some prepaid cards have low limits of about €250, whereas others can be up to €1,000. Your best bet to ensure ease of availability and use and support is VISA or MasterCard prepaid cards.
Can I withdraw my winnings to my prepaid card?: Unfortunately, not! This is probably the biggest drawback of using prepaid cards for casinos. You will have to use a different payment method for withdrawals, such as an eWallet like Skrill. Alternatively, you can request a bank transfer, but this takes a few days and there are usually fees, especially if it’s a cross-border payment.
How do I get a bonus with a prepaid card?: This all depends on the casino. There are certain prepaid cards that won’t qualify you for a bonus. On the other hand, some casinos have exclusive offers for using certain cards. You will need to check what your favourite casino offers.
Can I withdraw from the Casino to an eWallet?: The general rule in the casino world is you can only withdraw to the same method used to make the original deposit. If you deposited with an eWallet, the casino will process the withdrawal back to the same eWallet account.