Online bill pay is a handy deposit method that allows you to transfer money directly from your bank account to your betting account without ever revealing your financial details. If you have an account at a major bank with access to online banking, there’s a good chance you can make a deposit using the bill pay method.
Legal Betting Sites that Accept Online Bill Pay Deposits
The nice thing about this deposit method is you do not need a credit card, debit card or an account with a third-party e-wallet service such as PayPal. All you need is an account with a major bank and the ability to log in to your bank’s online bill pay feature.
At no time do you have to submit your banking details to the betting site of your choice. After selecting online bill pay as your deposit method, you’ll be redirected to a secure page within your gaming site’s cashier. There, you’ll log in using your existing online banking information to confirm and approve the deposit.
Deposits made with this option are credited to your betting account instantly, so the entire process is fast and efficient. If you’re not too keen on the idea of sharing your banking details with various betting sites, this option is worth a shot.
We should also note that not every betting site refers to this deposit method by the same name. Some call it an online bank transfer while others call it other names.
For example, BetStars calls it a “Stars Transfer” while 888 calls it an “online banking transfer.” In any case, the basic idea is that all you have to do is select an amount to deposit and then confirm the transaction with your bank by logging in to your existing bill pay account.
Banks That Work with Online Bill Pay
The biggest potential downside to online bill pay deposits is that you must have an account with a participating bank. Most of the major banks in states with legal online betting are compatible with this deposit option. However, you may need to choose a different deposit method if you do business with a smaller bank or credit union.
We’ve researched this deposit method at numerous betting sites and have found that the following banks are the most common. Note that this list is not necessarily exhaustive and that the exact list of compatible banks will vary from site to site.
Banks most likely to work with online bill pay deposits:
| Bank of America | BB&T | Capital One 360 |
| Chase | CITIBANK | HSBC Bank USA |
| New York Community Bank | PNC | Regions |
| Santander Bank | SunTrust | TD Bank |
| U.S. Bank | Wells Fargo |
Again, this is not an exhaustive list so you may want to visit your site’s cashier to see if your bank is accepted. If you like the idea of this deposit method but do not have an account with a supported bank, the next best alternative would be an eCheck deposit.
How to Make an Online Bill Pay Deposit
The process of making an online bill pay deposit is fairly straightforward assuming you have a compatible bank. The first thing is to choose a site that accepts bill pay deposits (see our recommendations above if you’re in the market for a new place to bet online).
Next, visit the cashier and select online bill pay as your deposit method. The next thing you’ll see is a list of supported banks and a field to input your desired deposit amount. The exact layout may be different depending on where you play, but the screen will likely look something like this:
Hit continue and select your bank from the list of approved banks:
Now, you’ll be taken to a screen to log in with your bank’s online banking feature. Remember to use the same information you use to log in to your bank; this is not where you log in to your betting site again.
And finally, the last screen will show your bank’s name and amount to deposit. Select “approve” if everything looks good and your betting account will be credited with the funds instantly.
Online Bill Pay Pros and Cons
Online bill pay is a straightforward deposit method without too many major cons working against it as long as you bank with a supported financial institution. That being said, there may be some shortcoming depending on your needs as a gambler. Let’s take a look at what’s good and what’s not so great.
Pro: Fast and easy to use
This is probably one of the easiest deposit methods out there if you have access to online banking at your bank. All you need is your existing online banking login and you can use this method to fund your gaming account instantly.
Con: Not compatible with all banks
Online bill pay is only an option if you use a bank supported by your online sportsbook or casino. If you bank elsewhere, you’ll have to use a different deposit method. You can log in to your betting site’s cashier or scroll back up on this page a bit to see a list of the most common banks that work with this method.
Pro: Does not reveal your bank account or credit card number
Not too sold on sending your credit card or bank account numbers over the internet? Online bill pay is for you. Rather than typing in your financial details, all you need to do is log in to your online banking feature to approve the deposit.
Con: Does not support withdrawals
Online bill pay is a one-way deposit method. After you’re done playing, you will need to select a different withdrawal method. An ACH bank transfer is the easiest withdrawal method and works in nearly the same manner, but it does require you to provide your bank account details so the money can be sent.
If you’re not comfortable withdrawing via instant bank transfer, other options include receiving a check in the mail or visiting the nearest land-based casino associated with your betting site for a cash withdrawal.
Pro: No need to sign up for a third-party e-wallet
Unlike PayPal deposits, online bill pay does not require you to sign up for a third-party e-wallet service. This eliminates one step from the process and makes it that much faster to get up and running. All you need is a bank account with an online banking feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
And before we go, here are some quick answers to frequently asked questions regarding online bill pay deposits.
What’s the difference between online bill pay and online bank transfer?
Online bill pay and online bank transfer are similar in function but are markedly different deposit methods. It doesn’t help that some betting sites use the terms interchangeably.
The online bill pay deposit method does not require you to submit your bank account numbers to your betting site at any time. This method uses your bank’s existing online bill pay feature and is only compatible with certain banks.
By comparison, an online bank transfer (also sometimes called ACH/eCheck) involves submitting your account and routing numbers. Whereas online bill pay is only compatible with some banks, online transfers are compatible with almost all banks.
How do I know if my bank is supported?
First, check the list of commonly-accepted banks near the top of this page. If you don’t see your bank but are still interested, you might want to visit your betting site’s cashier and choose this method anyways. There, you’ll find a complete list of banks accepted by that specific betting site for online bill pay deposits.
What can I do if my bank is not supported?
You’ll need to try a different deposit method. ACH/eCheck deposits are the closest as they also involve transferring money directly from your bank account to the gambling site of your choice.
Why did my online bill pay deposit fail?
There are a few possibilities here. One is that you haven’t yet activated your bank’s online banking feature. You can only use this deposit method if you have the ability to visit your bank’s website and login to pay bills online. If you don’t have online banking activated, call your bank to set it up.
If you’re sure you have online banking and enough money to cover the deposit, check to see if your online banking feature has two-factor authentication activated. You’ll know you do if any time you login to your banking website, an access code is texted to your phone. If you have two-factor authentication, you’ll need to disable it temporarily to fund your betting account.
If that doesn’t solve it, the next best move would be to call your betting site’s customer support team for further assistance. Sometimes online bill pay transfers don’t work because your bank doesn’t recognize the transaction or for other unknown reasons. Calling your bank should get to the bottom of the matter.
Is this deposit method safe?
Online bill pay is as safe as any other deposit method, provided you play exclusively at betting sites that are licensed in the United States.
It may be slightly safer than inputting your credit and debit card numbers into betting sites manually, but you’ll still be funneling your online banking login through your site’s cashier. As long as you always play at legal gaming sites, the security concern is minimal.
Can I withdraw via online bill pay?
No, but you can withdraw via ACH transfer straight to your bank account. ACH withdrawals are just as fast as online bill pay and are also free.
