Top Online Payment Methods for Irish Players

As Irish players continue to search for real money online casinos and bookmakers and try to find the fastest and most secure options, the list of available payment methods continues to grow. In addition to credit cards, debit cards and bank transfers, the emergence of methods like e-wallets, pre-pay cards and cryptocurrency deposits, Irish players now have a wealth of options when making deposits and withdrawals. Check below for a guide to the most popular payment methods.

Best Casinos for Real Money for Irish Players

Why are casino and sportsbook payment methods important to you?

When you play at an online casino or sportsbook, you play for real money. That means that at some point you will have to deposit an amount. Usually you have to deposit money from your bank account in order to receive the welcome bonus offered by the given casino. 

Each casino will offer a series of payment methods you can choose between. When choosing which bookmaker or online casino you want to play at, it can be a good idea to have a look at the payment options they offer. Ideally, they offer a method that you already use. 

It will differ what options you have, but most casinos will give you a few different options, within different types of payments. The same goes for sportsbooks. That way you hopefully will be able to choose the best payment method for you. 

The best payment methods for casino and sportsbook

Nowadays, you will find quite a lot of quality services helping you deposit to your favourite bookmaker or casino. With all the options it can be quite confusing. We recommend that payment is one of the things you take into consideration when choosing your next online gambling operator. 

If you already have a method that you already use or you are set on we recommend you just stick to that one. If you are uncertain, it is a good idea to research the different methods a bit. At least the ones that are not as common as using a credit card. 

Further down below, we will take you through most of the types of payment methods. At the top of the page, you can see the different brands available and read full reviews on those as well. 

Why do you need to know about casino and sportsbook payment methods?

There are different factors to consider when choosing a payment method for casino and sportsbook. The factors will of course also vary depending on which method you end up choosing. 

Many people choose the more classic methods such as using their credit card when paying. Others prefer to use a service where they make a prepayment to that account, and then use it to pay the operator. That way it can be easier to get an overview over your wagering budget and you are less likely to all of the sudden have spent more than you initially anticipated. 

It’s very individual which methods players prefer and that is also why we won't tell you which particular one you should use. We recommend that you read few of the reviews on the brands you are considering using. Below you will be able to see more information on some of the types of payments. 

Things to consider when choosing a payment method for casino and sportsbook

Things that are important to you might not be to the next player. That is why the best thing we can do is make you aware of the different factors that you might come across. In this section, we will introduce you to some of the things you have to consider when choose payment method in general. 

Security

Safety is always extremely important when it comes to your funds. You should not provide your payment details to any company you do not trust. That is also why it is important that you do your research if you go with a new company. Make sure that the company use the latest encryption technologies to keep your data protected. Online casino sites in a regulated market will usually only offer quality online payment methods. 

Fees

Some companies will charge you a small fee every time you use them to make a transaction. It might seem like an insignificant amount, but if you use the service on a regular basis it will add up. Make sure you know if the company charges and fee and how much if they do. 

Convenience

The whole point of spending time choosing the right payment method for you is to find the one that is most comfortable and convenient for you. That is why you should check what steps you have to take when making a transaction through a payment service. You should not spend more than a minute or two before your transaction has been sent. 

Transaction time

Even though you took the action to transfer it does not mean that the money found their way yet. If varies from service to service how long it takes from you make the transfer until the casino receives the money. The time it takes is also the time you have to wait until you can start playing. It can be annoying for some to have to wait too long. Especially if you were all set on starting to play for your new welcome bonus. 

Credit Cards, Debit Cards & Prepaid Cards

The credit and debit cards that you can use to deposit and withdraw funds from your account whilst using a Paypal casino are Visa, Visa Electron, Maestro and Mastercard. Using prepaid cards like Entropay and Paysafe is one further available method that also reduces the risk posed by your casino and bank accounts and being directly linked.

Depositing into your account with a credit, debit or prepaid card couldn't be more straightforward. Simply visit the account section of your chosen casino site and enter an amount above the €15 minimum that you wish to deposit. Making a withdrawal is a very similar process, the maximum withdrawal limit varies depending on your chosen operator.

You can also use your credit or debit directly. This means that you enter your payment information directly on the casino or bookmakerwebsite. If you want to skip the middleman then this is the easiest way to do it. The casino or bookmaker will provide a section where you can easily put in your card information. 

✅ Advantages

·    Convenience

·    Credit availability

·    Security

❌ Disadvantages

·    Not every online casino supports using visa cards to make withdrawals

·    Transaction rejection risk

·    Fraud risk

E-Wallets

Available eWallets like Skrill and Neteller are pre-paid online accounts that are used to store money and transact online and offline through either a computer or smartphone. Safer than debit and credit cards, you can load eWallets whenever you want, with the exact amount you are going to spend, immediately just before you make a transaction.

To use an eWallet with your online casino or sportsbook account, you must first install the relevant software onto your chosen device and fill out the relevant online account forms. Once your eWallet account is activated, when prompted your e-wallet will automatically add your details and all you will need to do is to fill in your password.

✅ Advantages

·    Multiple bank accounts in one place

·    More convenient

·    Faster transactions

·    Very secure

❌ Disadvantages

·    Possible fees for sourcing account

·    Not ideal as offline payment method

·    Bonuses are rare

Bank Transfers

Bank transfers are one of the oldest methods of depositing funds into your sportsbook or online casino account. Sitting alongside Visa and MasterCard, they are still one of the most popular services for topping up your account. This is possibly because most punters have an available bank account and as they are straight transfers, there are typically no fees.

The bank transfer process involves using direct banking services to transfer funds directly from your bank to your online casino accounts. Whilst both types of available transaction, Instant and Bank Wire, use the online casino's account details to transfer through either online banking or in-branch, clearance times for the two available types of bank transfer varies.

✅ Advantages

·    Very secure

·    Extremely fast

·    Available for everyone

❌ Disadvantages

·    Potential delays

·    Additional information often required

·    Some banks refuse to make transfers for online gaming

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency is a form of electronic currency or virtual money whose value is policed by users who create Bitcoins using their computer and mathematics. Bitcoins (BTC) can be used for payments, purchasing goods online or make deposits at online Bitcoin casino real money sites. Players can use Ethereum (ETH) and Litecoin (LTC) tokens to fund their accounts.

In order to use cryptocurrency, you need to first join a crypto-casino or sportsbook, select the cashier option and enter the amount that you wish to deposit. Once you've hit the deposit button, you'll receive your crypto wallet address code, allowing you to initiate a cryptocurrency transaction from your wallet. Finally, input your deposit amount and the casino’s wallet address.

✅ Advantages

·    Completely safe to use

·    No additional fees

·    House edge is a little bit lower than usual

❌ Disadvantages

·    Casinos and sportsbooks that accept Bitcoin do not need to hold a license

·    Very few casinos offer Bitcoin as a deposit/withdrawal method

·    Bitcoin withdrawals can take longer than withdrawals to credit/debit cards

How to choose the best payment method for you

In order for you to choose which of the available online casino deposit and withdrawal options is best, you should first look at the amounts and how often you are looking to deposit or withdraw. Once you have estimated the amount and frequency of your transactions, you should also assess the security credentials of your available methods.

Two further considerations for online casino players are convenience and possible deposit or withdrawal charges. For example, although eWallets are a very convenient option, the relatively steep charges may render the option unsuitable for players only making small withdrawals. For more information, you should consult the terms and conditions of your chosen payment method and online casino.

Online casino and sportsbook payment options FAQs

How to make a deposit at a sportsbook or online casino?

Depositing money at an online casino or bookmaker isn’t much different from buying something from a website. With a wide variety of different deposit methods on offer, credit and debit cards are typically the most popular option. However bank transfers, eWallets, prepaid cards and cryptocurrency transactions are also becoming increasingly popular as players look for faster and more secure options.

How do I withdraw money at a sportsbook or online casino?

In order to withdraw money at an online casino or bookmaker, you should first find the cashier’s section. This section should be easy to locate as it's where you will have previously deposited funds. Once you have chosen a withdrawal option, the final step of this process is to submit all relevant personal and financial information. 

How long does it take to receive payment from a casino or sportsbook?

As there are no concrete rules regarding withdrawal times from online casinos can vary considerably. If you are using the most popular payment methods, then expect an average processing period of 3-5 days. However some casino and bookmaker sites boast much quicker processing times of as low as 2 days, with others delivering in as long as 7 days.

Are the withdrawal and deposit methods at online casinos and sportsbooks typically the same?

In most cases, the answer to this question is yes, however there are a few exceptions. With Mastercard you are able to deposit into your account but you are not able to make withdrawals, with the same is also true with Pay By Phone Ireland. Check your online casino's terms and conditions for further information.

Are there withdrawal limits at online casinos?

At sportsbooks and online casinos withdrawal limits are implemented and with the average limit on debit/credit cards and eWallets ranging from €1,000 to €3,000, with winnings often far exceeding these restrictions. With some limits applying daily, weekly or even monthly, when joining an online casino be sure to check the withdrawal limits, as you cannot appeal at a later date.