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US online poker players are always looking for easier ways to make deposits. What deposit options do I have? What options are instant? What deposit options do I have that don’t force me to jump through hoops? Now, with the UIGEA supposedly ‘taking effect’ on December 1st, players are wondering what US deposit options will be available to them. Remember, the UIGEA doesn’t make playing online poker illegal – it just aims to make depositing more difficult.
First, lets talk about the Pokerstars deposit options available to US players today. Then we’ll talk a little about what we can expect after December 1st.
Pokerstars US Players Deposit Options
Currently, players can choose from a few instant deposit methods, and one other good choice as well. These include Instant eChecks, Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, Money Order/Cashiers Check, Western Union & Click2Pay.
Pokerstars Instant eChecks Deposits for US Players
This is one of the more popular deposit methods for US players. It’s easy, instant, and has a high success rate. A few months back Instant eChecks were down at all major US poker sites. Some sites had Instant eChecks back up and running in a few days, others took a couple of weeks. Regardless, they’ve been working ever since, and are the best option right now (October, 2009).
The minimum deposit players can make using Instant eChecks at Pokerstars is $10. The maximum in a 24 hour period is $100. Players can deposit $300 in a seven day perion, or $600 in a 30 day period. Also, there is a limit of one deposit per 48 hours. So, if you deposit $100 today, you can deposit another $100 48 hours later.
There is no fee for using the Instant eChecks deposit option at Poker Stars.
Sign Up and Make an Instant eChecks Deposit at Pokerstars
Pokerstars Visa, Mastercard & Diners Club Deposit Options
While these deposit options are very fast and simple, sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. Players often think Pokerstars is turning down their credit card, when in fact it’s the bank turning down Pokerstars. Another thing that most players don’t know is that Pokerstars has a way around this. They have a Deposit Assitance Department that players can contact who will run your card through a third party processor. This means that your bank won’t know you’re depositing to a poker site, therefore getting your deposit made successfully. So, if your card doesn’t work, don’t worry – just contact dad@pokerstars.com.
One of the benefits of using Visa, Mastercard and Diners Club at Pokerstars is the deposit limit. Players can use these options for a minimum deposit of $10, and a maximum of $600 in one day. This deposit option allows players to take advantage of the full $600 Pokerstars bonus.
Using these cards, players can deposit up to $1500 in seven days, or $2000 in 30 days. There are no fees for using Visa, Mastercard or Diners Club credit cards.
Sign Up and Make a Visa, Mastercard, or Diners Club Deposit
Pokerstars Click2Pay Deposits
Click2Pay is a secure online wallet similar to Neteller. However, instead of having to fund your Click2Pay account first, all you have to do is register a preferred deposit method. Then, when you make a Click2Pay deposit at Pokerstars, Click2Pay will automatically take the funds from that account. So, if you’ve set your preferred deposit method to be a credit card, then Click2Pay will charge your credit card at that time. Lots of US online poker sites offer Click2Pay, so it is a convenient deposit method to have available.
Click2Pay deposits have the same minimum and maximum deposit amounts as credit cards. The minimum deposit is $10, and the maximum 24 hour deposit is $600. You can deposit up to $1500 in seven days, or $2000 in 30 days.
When you go to the Pokerstars cashier, they will give you specific instructions on how to set up your Click2Pay account.
Sign Up and Make a Deposit Using Click2Pay
Pokerstars Western Union Deposits
Western Union is another great deposit option, as long as you don’t mind waiting 30-60 minutes before you can play. Western Union is definitely under-utilized, as it’s a very simple deposit option. Pokerstars does not accept Western Union deposits that have been funded via debit or credit card. That’s ok though, because it’s still easy to use Western Union to make a deposit. Western Union fees apply, but Pokerstars doesn’t charge anything additional.
Almost every grocery store in the US has a Western Union kiosk inside, making them simple to find. They are also located in various other places. Use the Western Union locator to find the Western Union nearest you.
Then, download Pokerstars.net and go to the cashier window. Choose the Western Union deposit option for details on where to send your money. Write that information down, then go to the Western Union office of your choice. If you can use Fed-Ex, you can use Western Union. It’s that easy.
Sign Up and Use Western Union to Make a Deposit
Pokerstars Money Order & Cashiers Check Deposits
Yeah, these are available deposit options, but you have to wait for snail mail. While these may become more popular choices after Dec. 1, they are not the best options available to us right now. Any of the Pokerstars US deposit options listed above are easier to use.
Pokerstars US Deposit Options After December 1st
What will happen to our Pokerstars deposit options after December 1st comes around? That’s a good question. While nobody can say for sure, it’s suspected that we will lose the Instant eChecks deposit option. Credit cards will likely stick around, with more players needing to use the Deposit Assistance Department. This department may become a players best friend, making otherwise difficult deposits easy. Western Union and Click2Pay are up in the air as well. It may be that they choose to keep offering their services, or they may not.
One thing we can be sure of is this. Pokerstars has not worked this hard to become the largest poker room in the world just to give it away. There will likely be new deposit options available, and new ways to get around the UIGEA. If players can’t deposit, the poker rooms can’t make money. As large as the US market is, my guess is that we’ll have 2-4 weeks of confusion in December, followed by some new options for making easy deposits. At this point all we can do is wait and see…and load up our accounts now.
Don’t forget to write down the Pokerstars marketing code PSA1037 and Pokerstars deposit bonus code Stars600. Using these codes will allow players to get the new 100% / $600 bonus.