E-Check

***Updated: September 1, 2019***

When the option to deposit with an E-Check is displayed at an online casino, it may not be clear what this refers to. If one had to guess though, they’d probably be right: it’s an electronic check coming directly from a bank account, to the betting website. It can also be referred to in their cashier simply as an ACH which stands for “Automated Clearing House” and is a virtual system to transfer funds between banks and 3rd party financial institutions.

It isn’t documented on paper but uses the exact same information as any physical check written from a bank account. Therefore, in order to complete the process it requires giving the operator the associated routing and transit numbers. Also, users should be careful not to confuse this with a bank wire, which is a way different thing, requiring physically entering a branch and providing additional details, including SWIFT codes and other info.

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Some places make the funds available for wagering right away and if the check doesn’t clear, the player is later penalized through the voiding all winnings and pending action. Those who have a bad history won’t be fronted money again until they’ve proven themselves to be trustworthy, through multiple successful transactions. Unquestionably, honesty is always the best policy.

Gamble in the U.S. with E-Check

This process should already be very familiar to most American gamblers since it hasn’t changed much in the last 20 years. Simply go into their cashier and click on “ACH” or “e-check” and fill out the required information, then enter the deposit amount and “confirm”. If the account is in good standing the full balance will be immediately ready for use.

The fees for ACH are low when compared to those incurred using a credit card like VISA or American Express, although, the method is mainly for people who want to transfer $200 or less because any more than that and it starts getting expensive. There shouldn’t be anything charged by the operator but always be sure to validate the details first to avoid surprises.

Regarding withdrawals, sometimes they only allow taking out the exact amount initially sent, which means finding an alternative for getting the rest. Usually this is done with cryptocurrency since it’s the easiest option (clearly, if crypto would have been used in the first place, the entire sum would have been available almost instantaneously).

U.S. Online Casino E-Check Deposits

Anyone who’s been betting on the internet for a while will likely remember that E-Check deposits were originally referred to as “DBT”, made famous by the wonderful employees at Bodog (now called “Bovada”) who wanted to revolutionize the overall gaming experience and allow U.S. players to easily move money around. It’s interesting that another industry veteran, PokerStars, still refers to it by this name today. For those keeping score, the folks at Bovada call it “Interac e-Transfer”, so don’t give it a second thought when seeing it in their cashier.

No matter which name is used, it’s one of the simplest ways to fund an online gambling account – if someone is happy leaving a paper trail behind, that is. People that want to stay anonymous should of course bet with Bitcoin because the entire process is totally private.

An important thing to note is that since the balance sent isn’t actually received by the casino for 7 days or more, a payout cannot be requested until the transaction has “cleared” and given final approval by the bank. This has led to many upset customers who didn’t know the rules going in and ended up feeling like they were being cheated – this isn’t the case at all, they simply have to confirm everything has been collected before paying players back.

Pros and Cons of Using E-Check at Online Casinos

There are lots of pros to using E-Check to deposit at an online casino, the main strength is that it will be familiar to those weary of stepping out of their comfort zone. It’s a time-tested method that has worked well for over 20 years, allowing people without a credit card to fund an account. It’s also good for anyone who dislikes dealing with 3rd party intermediaries such as eWallets or Blockchain Wallets, and wants to deal directly with the operator.

The main con of ACH is obvious: it means giving personal information, including bank details, which may make individuals valuing their privacy a little uncomfortable. Betting websites can’t really use the info, it’s just that it feels like divulging too much to them.

Another drawback to electronic checks is that based on today’s standards, it takes a long time to complete the process, 7 to 10 business days being the standard timeframe. This means if one chooses to use ACH on a Sunday, books action for that night and wins, they won’t be able to take anything out for 14 to 20 business days since both the original transfer and then the withdrawal will need time to clear. Compared to a method like Litecoin, which would have someone re-upping their balance, betting, winning, and getting paid in the same day, it’s easy to see why many are moving on from the old school ways.

Also, if finances are mismanaged and the money in the bank account earmarked for the online casino is spent elsewhere, the deposit will fail and the operator will probably void the winning wagers for that period. This could undoubtedly turn a huge payday into a massive nightmare. The NSF bank charges resulting from the error will be the ultimate insult to injury.

A final word of caution: there are limitations to where E-Checks can be used and it might be hard to find a site accepting them. To assist, our listings are updated regularly so readers will easily be able to select someplace to accommodate them.