The bank transfer serves as a simple and quick way to fund your account at just about any legal betting site in the United States. If you have a checking account, you have everything you need to use this deposit method to fund your account, play for real money and get paid.
Best eCheck Betting Sites
There are two main types of bank transfer deposits. The first and easiest to use is the ACH deposit or eCheck, which can be completed in seconds from your computer or mobile device. Some betting sites also accept wire transfers, which tend to be better for large deposits.
We’ll explain how both methods work today, but much of our focus will be on ACH/eCheck deposits since those are the easiest and most popular of the two. While there are circumstances in which the wire transfer is the best option, you’ll usually find eCheck deposits the most suitable for your needs.
Online Bank Transfers
Online bank transfers are sometimes referred to as ACH deposits, eChecks or even other names, but whatever you call it, the basic idea is the same: you select an amount to deposit, type in your checking account number, routing number and hit the confirm button.
eCheck deposits take a few days to clear, but your gaming account will be credited instantly so there’s no wait on your end. Choosing this method will have you funded and ready to place your wagers in no time.
How to Deposit with an eCheck
All you need to deposit with an ACH transfer / eCheck is a standard checking account at any bank and some money to spend. Log in to your preferred betting site, visit your account area, go to the cashier and select “deposit.”
The deposit screen at your betting site will likely list a few deposit methods such as credit card, PayPal and so on. Look for the ACH/eCheck option and select that as your method. Some sites also use terms to the effect of “online banking” or “instant transfer.” As long as it sounds like something having to do with online banking, a transfer of funds, ACH or eCheck, you’ve probably got the right one.
Note: Some sites also offer an “online bill pay” option. This method works similarly to ACH/eCheck, but it is different and we’ll be discussing that on another page soon. Online bill pay deposits only work with select banks that have an online bill pay feature whereas ACH/eChecks work with nearly all banks.
After you choose ACH/eCheck as you deposit method, you’ll be taken to a page to input your bank account number and routing number. The exact layout of the deposit page will vary from one site to the next, but in general you can expect to see something that looks like this:
The easiest way to find your checking account and routing numbers is to find your checkbook, take out a blank check and look at the numbers printed across the bottom. The left-most number on the bottom of the check is your routing number while the one to the right of that is your bank account number.
Example:
If you can’t find your checkbook (hey, it happens), the next best option is to log in to your bank’s website if you have access to online banking and look for an image of your most recent statement. If that doesn’t work, you can also give your bank a call and they’ll help you out. Banks answer this question all the time.
You’ll also note that the form in the first screenshot asks for your driver’s license information. This is par for the course and is no reason to be alarmed. Licensed betting sites in the United States are required by law to conclusively identify every customer.
Pros and Cons of eCheck Deposits
eChecks are for the most part a great way to fund online betting accounts. As long as you have a bank account and trust your gaming site, there is little downside.
Pro: No need to have a credit or debit card on hand
eChecks bypass credit and debit cards entirely by moving money straight from your bank account to your betting account. Whether you just don’t have a debit card or don’t feel like digging it out to read off a 16-digit number and type it out accurately, you can use eChecks to save the hassle.
Online gaming deposits made via eCheck are just as fast as those made with debit and credit cards, so you lose nothing in terms of speed. As long as you can find your checking account and routing numbers, you’ll find it as easy as using a debit card.
Con: You might be uncomfortable sharing your bank account info
If you’re not particularly fond of sharing your bank account and routing numbers with online casinos and sportsbooks, this may not be the deposit method for you. Betting sites licensed in the USA are held to very high security standards by state regulators, but it’s also true that not even the biggest companies in the US are not immune to the occasional security breach.
Speaking as your humble author, I personally am not too concerned about this risk when playing at legal US betting sites. Heck, even doing all your shopping in-person with a credit card is no guarantee. Playing at licensed gaming sites in the US is in my opinion no riskier than shopping at Target.
Pro: Deposits credited to your account instantly
The best eCheck betting sites credit your gaming account instantly after you initiate the transfer. ACH transactions actually take a couple of days to clear from your bank account, but your gaming site will still credit you up front so you can get right into the action.
Con: Limit of six ACH transfers per month if using a savings account
Banking regulations limit savings accounts to six outgoing transactions per month in total. If you’re using a savings account to deposit, the most you can get out of it is six deposits per month – and that’s not including any other transactions that take money out of your savings account.
And while we’re on the topic, please make sure you’re gambling responsibly. If you set up that savings account to aside some entertainment expenses, then have at it. If that’s a savings account you originally set up to save for a new car, please think twice before gambling. No matter how lucky you feel, gambling and sports betting deposits should always be treated as entertainment expenses because losing is always a possibility.
Pro: Betting sites charge no fees for bank transfer deposits
We have not yet encountered a single betting site in the US that charges fees for using the ACH/eCheck deposit method. Your bank may charge fees, but even that is rare from our experience. In most cases, you’ll pay absolutely nothing for using this option.
Pro: Effective alternative if you’re having trouble depositing with a debit card
Financial institutions are allowed to process transactions to licensed gaming sites in the US, but are prohibited by federal law from facilitating transactions to or from illegal offshore gaming sites. Some institutions have opted to automatically block all debit and credit transactions connected to online gambling due to the difficulty and expense involved with sorting between what’s legal and what’s not.
If you have had problems depositing with your debit card but you know you have money in your account, the ACH/eCheck is the answer. Online bank transfers are free, just as fast and are successful at a much higher frequency.
Frequently Asked Questions
And now we’ll conclude our discussion of online bank transfers with answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you still have questions or are having trouble making a deposit, don’t be afraid to reach out to your betting site’s customer support team. It has been our experience that most sites licensed in the USA are staffed with knowledgeable and professional support people.
What’s the difference between ACH and eCheck?
The terms “ACH” and “eCheck” are used interchangeably to describe bank-to-bank transfers, but there are subtle differences if you want to be technical about it.
The term “ACH” is short for automated clearing house and technically describes the process by which money is moved from one bank to another with the help of an intermediary. ACH payments take a few days to complete, but gaming sites usually just credit you with the funds instantly when depositing.
The term eCheck is short for – you guessed it – electronic check. While ACH describes the process, eCheck describes the instrument itself. The form you fill out and information you submit when initiating an online payment is the eCheck.
You can see a more thorough explanation of the differences here.
Why am I being asked for my driver’s license information?
Standard operating procedure for online betting sites is to verify the identify of every player. If you’re asked for your driver’s license information, it’s only because the law requires all online casinos, sportsbooks and racebooks to verify that every customer is (a) who they say they are, (b) of legal age to gamble online and (c) physically present in a jurisdiction that allows online gambling.
It may be disconcerting to share this information online, but the law requires it at some point during your stay with a gaming site. You may be asked for this information when you initiate a deposit or upon your first withdrawal.
Why am I being asked for my social security number?
See above. Many gaming sites crosscheck your social security number against identification databases to ensure that you’re a real person, that you’re of legal age and so on.
Can I withdraw via online bank transfer?
Yes. The online bank transfer is one of the most convenient withdrawal methods out there because the money is sent straight to your bank account. There’s no waiting around for a check in the mail or visiting your bank to accept a wire transfer. Just hit the withdraw button, confirm the withdrawal amount and check your bank account a few days later.
Wire Transfer Deposits
The wire transfer is not a widely-advertised deposit method, mainly because it requires some actual leg-work on the customer’s end. Betting sites for the most part prefer to direct their customers to the most convenient methods in order to encourage deposits.
PlaySugarHouse is the most well-known sports betting site that advertises wire transfers on its website, but most sites do not even list it as an accepted method. You might be able to contact some online casinos or sportsbooks and ask them to accept a wire transfer, but don’t be surprised if they recommend using a different method to fund your account.
Where wire transfers come in handy is when you need to make a very large deposit (say more than a couple thousand dollars). In that case, wire transfers are a solid option because they can handle large transfers and work very quickly.
The biggest downside to wire transfers is that they require you to contact your betting site for its banking details and then visit or call your bank to initiate the wire transfer. This takes extra time, and wire transfers don’t always go out on the same day depending on what time you initiate the transfer on your end.
Additionally, most banks will charge you anywhere from $20 to $40 for sending the wire. Unless it’s a large transfer, you’ll find it much cheaper to fund your account via credit card, debit card or ACH/eCheck.
