US Betting Deposit Options

Legal online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps offer various deposit methods for customers to fund their wagering accounts quickly and safely.

New bettors may be surprised by the degree of flexibility they have. Betting deposit methods range from instant online payments, to cash paid in-person at the nearest convenience store.

Below, BettingUSA will discuss how the most popular online betting deposit methods work. We also investigate average processing times and which sportsbooks provide the easiest funding experience.

Legal Betting Sites With Fast Deposits

The single most effective way for any customer to ensure a smooth depositing experience is to stick exclusively with legal and betting operators.

Licensed betting sites operate under significant state oversight, and must adhere to various consumer safety regulations.

For those reasons, BettingUSA only recommends licensed online sportsbooks.

However, even among legal betting sites, some are better than others regarding speed, success rates, and other factors.

The best betting apps ultimately make the deposit process an insignificant and unmemorable part of the online betting experience.

Additionally, customers should expect nothing less when claiming their winnings. Fast withdrawal betting sites vastly improve the customer experience and demonstrate a high degree of professionalism by treating customers well even as they’re leaving.

Bettors can get started by visiting licensed online betting sites and signing up for an account. After logging in, new users can visit the cashier, choose a payment method, and follow the on-screen instructions to make their first deposit.

Best Betting Deposit Methods

All deposit options at licensed betting sites are safe and secure. As a result, finding the best payment method usually comes down to bettor’s personal preferences.

Those who want to bet online with minimal effort can use debit cards, credit cards, electronic bank transfers, and online wallets like Paypal.

Meanwhile, bettors who prefer depositing cash in hand can use methods such as PayNearMe to get started.

Additionally, bettors should know that different online betting payment methods provide varying levels of privacy.

For example, sharing debit card information with online betting sites offers less privacy than making a cash deposit in-person.

Every deposit method has pros and cons. Read on for more information about the most common payment methods betting sites accept today.

Betting with Debit and Credit Cards

Credit and debit cards are fast, convenient, and easy to use for most people. Anyone who has made an online purchase knows the routine. Customers type in the card number, select an amount to deposit, and hit the submit button.

Most of the time, online sportsbooks instantly credit customers’ betting accounts.

Most betting sites accept Visa and Mastercard. However, only some operators accept Discover and American Express.

Bettors in most states can deposit with a credit or debit card, but a handful of states prohibit credit card deposits. Readers can visit BettingUSA’s credit card page for more information about state restrictions and what to do if they have problems depositing with credit cards.

• Fee: Most betting sites do not charge fees for depositing with a credit or debit card. However, some issuing banks treat credit card deposits as cash advances and may assess additional fees.
• Processing time: Instant

Bank Transfer Deposits

Bank transfers send money directly from bettors’ checking accounts to their mobile betting accounts. Users who lack a debit card or have trouble depositing with a credit card should consider bank transfer as an alternative method. Bank transfers are a convenient option that almost always works.

Making an ACH deposit involves inputting one’s routing number, checking account number, and an amount to deposit. Most betting sites credit funds from bank transfer deposits instantly to customers’ betting accounts.

VIP Preferred

Many licensed operators use a company called VIP Preferred to process online banking deposits. VIP Preferred is a secure financial services institution that provides its services to large swathes of the US gambling industry, including brick-and-mortar casinos.

At sportsbooks that use VIP Preferred, customers are automatically enrolled the first time they deposit.

Depositing with an ACH transfer or eCheck is almost always free, instant, and convenient. Wire transfer deposits involve a bit more work (often a trip to the bank to authorize the transfer) and incur additional bank fees.

• Fee: No fees for ACH/eCheck; bank fee for wire transfer
• Processing time: Instant for ACH/eCheck; up to one business day for wire transfers

Betting With Paypal

PayPal betting sites are available in most regulated states, providing bettors a quick way to fund their accounts.

Frequent bettors may find depositing with PayPal more convenient than online banking and credit cards, because it also functions as a secure e-wallet, allowing bettors to keep their betting bankrolls separate from their other money.

PayPal also offers enhanced privacy because it does not share customers’ banking information with sportsbooks and other online merchants.

PayPal is only accepted at legal betting sites, but it does not offer its services to all licensed operators. Readers can see BettingUSA’s PayPal page for more information on which betting apps accept PayPal deposits, how to get started, and answers to common questions.

• Fee: None in most cases
• Processing time: Instant

Apple Pay Betting Deposits

Apple Pay deposits at online sportsbooks are fast, convenient, and incur no additional costs. Apple Pay is an excellent deposit method for iOS users, but doesn’t work for bettors who use Android products or desktop PCs.

Note: Some online sportsbooks also offer Apple Pay withdrawals, while others only accept it for deposits.

Security is a significant strong point for Apple Pay in a couple of ways.

First, Apple Pay betting deposits keep customers’ card information hidden from operators and third-party payment processors. Additionally, Apple only authorizes transactions to licensed betting sites, making it easy for bettors to know they’re doing business with safe online sportsbooks.

• Fee: None for most betting sites
• Processing time: Instant

Venmo Sports Betting Deposits

Social payments app Venmo now provides instant online deposits to select sportsbooks, horse racing betting sites, and DFS platforms. It’s an exceedingly fast and simple deposit method, and bettors can use it without paying anything extra.

• Fee: None
• Processing time: Instant

Play+ Prepaid Cards Betting

The Play+ prepaid card is a must-have for frequent bettors. Play+ is easy to use, provides instant deposits, and offers withdrawals via electronic bank transfers or actual cash.

Play+ effectively functions as two deposit methods in one. First, customers who choose this method are directed to sign up for an online Play+ account.

After registering, bettors can upload funds instantly online and begin placing wagers immediately.

About two weeks later, new users will receive a physical Play+ card in the mail. This card is linked to their online Play+ account, and bettors can use it to make purchases anywhere Discover is accepted.

Bettors can initiate withdrawals online, prompting Play+ to send funds via electronic bank transfer. Customers may also take their physical Play+ card to the nearest ATM for a cash withdrawal.

• Fee: Fees vary; no charge for depositing or withdrawing
• Processing time: Instant

Online Bill Pay

Online bill pay functions similarly to ACH/eChecks, but provides enhanced privacy.

Customers who select the bill pay method choose an amount to deposit and input their existing online banking login info on a secure page to authorize the transaction. The sportsbook receives the deposit without seeing customer’s banking details.

The downside to online bill pay deposits is they are not available to everyone. Online bill pay only works for users who have accounts at larger banking institutions.

• Fee: None
• Processing time: Instant

PayNearMe Betting

PayNearMe is the option for bettors who would like to use physical currency to fund online betting accounts. It offers the secondary advantage of enhanced privacy because customers don’t have to share banking information with a third party.

When bettors select PayNearMe to deposit, they choose an amount and receive a pay slip they can save to their phone or print. Then, they can take the pay slip to the nearest PayNearMe cashiering location (often a convenience store or nearby pharmacy) to pay with cash.

Betting sites process PayNearMe deposits surprisingly quickly, often within minutes.

• Fee: $0 to $5.99 per transaction
• Processing time: Usually less than an hour

Skrill Betting

Skrill functions much like PayPal as an e-wallet but with higher fees and less widespread acceptance. An alternative method would serve customers better in most cases, but Skrill works in a pinch if the bettor has no other betting payment options.

• Fee: 1% to 6% for deposits; $5.50 for withdrawals
• Processing time: Instant

Betting With Prepaid Gift Cards

Some betting apps accept deposits via prepaid gift cards that customers can purchase in-person at retailers such as Walgreens and 7-Eleven. However, bettors should first check with their betting site for a list of accepted prepaid cards because many card brands block transactions related to online gaming.

• Fee: Varies; usually under $5
• Processing time: Instant

Game On Deposits

Game On is a prepaid gift card that bettors can purchase in-person or online in several states to fund their accounts at major sportsbooks. Unlike other prepaid gift cards, Game On is intended for use exclusively at legal betting sites and boasts a 100% successful deposit rate.

• Fee: $5.95 activation fee
• Processing time: Instant

BetMGM Gift Card Deposits

Bettors can find BetMGM gift cards on the gift card rack at thousands of retailers nationwide. BetMGM gift cards have a $4.95 purchase fee but include a $10 bonus to offset the fee. Purchasers pay the fee at the time of checkout, so anyone who receives a BetMGM prepaid card as a gift will receive the full face value (plus the $10 bonus) when depositing.

• Fee: $4.95 purchase fee
• Bonus: $10 bonus when gift card is redeeemed
• Processing time: Instant

DraftKings Gift Card Deposits

DraftKings gift cards are available in denominations up to $100 and include zero fees when purchased or redeemed online. Bettors can purchase multiple DraftKings Sportsbook gift cards to deposit more than the per-card $100 limit and check the remaining balance on any card at draftkingsgift.com.

• Fee: None
• Processing time: Instant

Cash At The Cage Deposits

In many states, mobile sportsbooks partner with local casinos for market access as required by local law. In those cases, customers can often visit the retail sportsbook associated with any betting site to make an in-person cash deposit or withdrawal.

Bettors can find the nearest in-person deposit location (if available) by logging in to their mobile betting account, visiting the cashier, and selecting “cash at the cage.” Instructions there provide location information and reminders to bring a photo ID and login information.

Benefits of in-person deposits include privacy, instant deposits, and no fees. It also feels nice to make an in-person withdrawal to receive physical currency in hand. The biggest downside is physical security if transporting large sums of cash to or from a casino.

• Fee: None
• Processing time: Instant

Wire Transfer Deposits

Wire transfer deposits work best for transferring large sums of money. If a bettor wishes to deposit more than the maximum amount allowed by other deposit methods, the wire transfer is the way to go. The downsides are that customers may have to visit their bank in person to initiate the transfer and will likely pay a fee at the bank.

• Fee: Some banks charge up to $30, but many betting sites offer to cover the cost for deposits over a certain amount (i.e., fees refunded for deposits of $100 or more)
• Processing time: 1-7 business days

Green Dot Moneypak Betting

Green Dot deposits also provides a way for bettors to fund their online betting accounts with physical currency. The concept is similar to PayNearMe, but Green Dot MoneyPak is most often accepted at horse racing betting sites rather than online sportsbooks or casinos.

Bettors can get started by visiting the nearest Green Dot location to purchase a voucher in person with cash. After paying, customers receive a MoneyPak voucher they can redeem online to credit their betting accounts.

• Fee: $4.95
• Processing time: Within minutes

Prizeout Withdrawals

Prizeout is a unique deposit method by which bettors can withdraw their winnings as gift cards to major retailers rather than cash. Customers often receive gift cards worth more than the withdrawal amount, and betting sites usually process Prizeout withdrawals in minutes.

• Fee: None
• Processing time: Usually minutes

Check Or Money Order Betting

Bettors can get started by logging in to their online gaming account, visiting the cashier, and selecting “check/money order.” The betting site will then provide a mailing address and any other instructions to ensure the sportsbook correctly credits the deposit to the customer’s account.

Anyone considering this method should note that personal checks can take up to two weeks to clear before the funds become available for wagering.

• Fee: None for checks; varies for money orders
• Processing time: Up to two weeks

Wyrz

Some sportsbooks introduced Wyrz deposits as a solution to declined debit and credit card deposits.

If a bettor attempts to make a deposit and their bank declines the transaction, their sportsbook may ask them if they would like to route their payment through a digital, prepaid debit card. Bettors never leave the cashier, and the transaction happens instantly, so it feels like a standard credit card deposit but with one extra step.

• Fee: None
• Processing time: Instant

Mazooma Betting

Mazooma is not a name players see very often as it tends to work on the backend of eCheck and online bill pay transactions.

Although Mazooma is not a high-profile, consumer-facing brand, it is one of the largest payment processors in the industry and powers many electronic banking transfers every day. Mazooma holds payment processing licenses in every state with legal online gaming and provides services to most betting sites.

• Fee: None
• Processing time: Instant

Depositing At Daily Fantasy Sites

Depositing at daily fantasy sites is as easy as funding an online betting account because both industries are legal and regulated in the United States. Most of the deposit methods described above work just as well at DFS sites as they do for mobile sportsbooks.

Funding a DFS account is a simple method of selecting a deposit method and inputting the requested information (credit card number, PayPal e-mail, etc.). In most cases, fantasy sports sites credit players’ accounts instantly after depositing.

Generally, credit and debit cards are the most convenient deposit methods across the board. However, PayPal is also worth considering because it comes in handy for moving a bankroll from one DFS site to the next. Additionally, PayPal helps players keep their fantasy bankrolls separate from their daily spending money.

Online Horse Racing Betting Deposits

Advance deposit wagering platforms (horse racing betting sites) offer many of the same deposit methods detailed above. Therefore, funding an ADW is not much different than depositing to any other betting site, except ADWs tend to charge more fees.

For example, TVG charges a $5 fee for credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and prepaid cards. However, all mainstream horse racing betting sites offer at least one or two free deposit methods – usually eCheck and cash deposits at the nearest racetrack.

The most common horse racing deposit methods include the following:

• ACH/eCheck
• Credit and debit card
• PayPal
• Green Dot MoneyPak
• PayNearMe
• Wire transfer
• Cash at the track
• Check or money order by mail

Online Betting Deposit Methods FAQ

Below are the answers to frequently asked questions regarding making deposits to online betting accounts. Customers who still have questions should not hesitate to contact their sportsbook’s customer service team; betting sites tend to respond quickly when it comes to signing up and making deposits because they want new business.

Legal Deposit Methods by State

Almost every state with legal sports betting has regulations that govern which deposit methods licensed operators may accept. As a result, the availability of sportsbook deposit options varies by state.

For example, some states prohibit credit card deposits to encourage responsible gambling. Other states allow operators to accept a full range of deposit methods, including credit cards, cash at the casino, e-wallets, and more.

Generally, free-market sports betting states with many licensed operators permit the widest variety of deposit options. Monopoly states such as Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon, which both grant the lottery control over sports betting, tend to provide fewer betting payment options to customers.

Our section with state-specific regulations offers overviews of the deposit methods permitted in each state, along with references to local laws that regulate how customers may fund their sports betting accounts.