Visa, along with MasterCard, can lay claim to being the world’s most popular form of credit card. Although it’s a direct competitor to MasterCard, the two are as thick as thieves; where you find one, you’ll invariably find the other.
While not unheard of, it’s extremely rare for a website to accept only of these dominant global credit cards. Visa can be used to pay for a wide range of goods and services, both in the real world and on the web.
Due to its widespread adoption and ease of use, it’s no wonder that Visa is accepted by online casinos operating in gambling territories across the globe. Most casinos accept credit card and thus most casinos accept Visa.
Deposits are instant, they’re generally free and, once done, you can start playing straight away. The benefits of having a Visa card tucked into your wallet are manifold.
The Visa Story
Headquartered in California, Visa Inc is a huge multinational that facilitates the issuing of Visa-branded credit cards as well as debit cards bearing its distinctive logo.
Technically Visa isn’t responsible for issuing these cards; that duty falls to the company’s many partners such as banks, stores and other financial companies. These firms give their customers credit, which they can access with the aid of a Visa credit card. As an indication of Visa’s might and popularity, it was responsible for 100 billion transactions in 2015 worth $6.8 trillion. Visa: it’s kind of a big deal.
One task that Visa Inc does dedicate itself to is fraud detection and security. At any given moment in time, thousands of transactions are being performed using Visa credit and debit cards, which means that at any moment in time, hackers and identity thieves will be doing their utmost to exfiltrate card data from insecure websites.
Visa’s advanced fraud detection algorithms haven’t eliminated credit card fraud altogether, but they’ve certainly made it harder for such behaviour to run unchecked.
How Visa Works
Visa-branded credit and debit cards are both available to the consumer, and both are accepted by a wide range of online merchants including roulette casinos. Not all sites will accept both types of Visa card, but many will. Generally speaking, a Visa debit card is easier to obtain than a Visa credit card, because to obtain the latter you will require a credit rating to begin with.
With Visa, you’re essentially taking a loan from the card issuer that equates to the value of the limit placed on your card. If the issuer extends you a limit of, say, $1,000, you will be able to make purchases of up to $1,000 in total before your card is maxed out.
At that stage it won’t be accepted by vendors until you’ve cleared your balance. When you receive your credit card bill, you have the choice of paying the amount in full or of paying the minimum specified on the statement, whereupon the remaining balance will be carried over to the following month, with an interest fee added on.
How to Make Purchases with Visa
At bricks and mortar stores, you can pay for items by entering your PIN number after inserting your Visa card into the payment terminal. If you have contactless payment enabled, you can simply place your card against the reader.
On the web, it’s a little different. You’ll need to enter the long number printed on the front of the card along with the 3-digit code on the back and your address.
Most people have no qualms about submitting this data, because the payment process should be encrypted and the website shouldn’t store your card number in plain text. In saying that, it’s not unheard of for websites to be hacked and card details to be leaked, even if such attacks – on a wide scale at least – are rare.
How to Make a Casino Deposit Using Visa
Using your Visa card at an online casino is the same as using it to pay for anything else on the web. Head to the Deposit page of the casino, enter your details as described above and, if desired, select the box that asks whether your details should be stored for future reference. You don’t have to opt in for this of course, but be aware that you’ll need to re-enter your details every time you want to top up your account balance.
When you make payment with a Visa credit or debit card, funds should clear instantly, allowing you to get started right away, whether playing slots, poker, blackjack or any other game that takes your fancy. While the card issuer won’t charge a fee for making a deposit with Visa, it’s possible that the casino might.
Thankfully, most casinos don’t do this. Likewise when it comes to withdrawals: you can withdraw your winnings onto your Visa card, provided it was the same card that you used to deposit funds in the first place. Again, there shouldn’t be a fee for this, but the transaction won’t be instantaneous: typically it will take 3-5 days once the casino has released the funds for them to appear in your account.
The Pros and Cons of Using Visa at a Casino
Due to its popularity, it’s certainly convenient to use Visa at your preferred casino, bingo site or sportsbook. Most casinos accept Visa, and many people own a Visa credit or debit card.
If you’re looking to get started right away at a casino, a card such as Visa is probably your best bet. Due to the fraud detection software Visa uses, you can make payments with confidence, in the knowledge that the odds of your details being stolen are extremely low.
There are a few disadvantages to using Visa of course. The more websites you submit your card details to, the greater the chance of these eventually being exposed.
Moreover, if you value your anonymity, Visa is not the way to go. Law enforcement agencies, tax offices and other official bodies can easily scrutinise your spending, while paper statements can be intercepted by spying spouses and employees.
There are certainly more discreet payment options than Visa. It’s also possible for people to get into debt with credit cards. Should you fail to keep up with the repayments specified on your monthly statement, the interest rate will soar and you’ll eventually have your card cancelled, your credit rating ruined and the debt passed on to a collection agency.
Provided it’s used responsibly, however, Visa is a handy way of paying for goods and services and playing at web-based casinos.
In Conclusion
Depositing funds into an online casino account using Visa is quick and easy. If you’re accustomed to using your credit card to make purchases on the web, it’s natural that you should want to use Visa to fund your roulette playing. Thanks to the huge number of sites that accept Visa, you’ll be able to use your card at the vast majority of online casinos you encounter. Deposit funds instantly using Visa and then, when it comes to withdraw them, funds can be credited back onto your account using Visa, with the withdrawal process taking 3-5 days on average.
FAQ
What is Visa?
Visa is the name given to a branded type of credit or debit card that’s used in hundreds of countries around the world.
Who issues Visa cards?
Visa Inc is the company behind the brand but the cards themselves are issued under license by financial institutions such as your bank.
What type of Visa card are available?
There are various types of Visa card available but these can be split into two categories: credit cards and debit cards. The latter is linked to your bank account, and you will not be able to exceed the funds that are stored in it. The former is tied to the credit limit you’ve been granted and you can spend up to that amount.
Is it safe to use Visa?
While no credit or debit card is 100% secure, Visa is extremely safe to use and the company operating it is trustworthy. Unless you’re using an unreputable casino, it should be safe to use Visa online.