HOW TO PAY AND PLAY ONLINE?

As the saying goes: "You've got to be in it to win it".

So how do you go about gambling with an online casino.

Easy, I can hear you thinking, just submit your credit card details, an amount of cash you want to play, and off you jolly well go.

Well the answer to that is yes, and no. Credit cards, can and used to be the preferred method of payment, (or for high rollers, the old fashioned cash tranfers from the likes of Western Union), but these days most American and European banks block online gambling transactions, especially as providing financial transfer for online gambling is now outlawed in the USA.

These days the most popular method is via the electronic wallet, or ewallet.

You can open an ewallet account from the likes of Neteller or Click2pay, and there are details of these and more ewallet providers on this site. (Note: If you have a USA address, the QuickTender ewallet is the only choice available to you.)

To sign up you'll most likely be required to furnish personal details such as your name, address, date of birth etc, along with bank, credit, and debit card details. And be prepared for the company to run a background check to confirm who you are in order to weed out fraudsters and money launderers.

Once you've got your ewallet, you can simply load it with cash by any online payment method that suits you, and play.

So that's easy then? So far, but things get somewhat tricky if you played your hand and won and you want to cash in. In theory the casino should simply pay back to your ewallet, but unfortunately it's not that simple.

Every casino has different methods, and there are over 3000 web sites out there, some have restrictions, others are more flexible.

And even though your ewallet provider has no doubt checked your credentials, the casino may still want proof of ID, in the form of a copy of your passport, a utility bill and a photo.

It's important here to advise all prospective online gamblers to check the casino's website Banking page, and see what options there are for paying in and, more importantly, cashing in.

The same can be said of your ewallet provider. Most are secure, more so than credit cards, but be careful of what charges and fees might be hidden in the small print.

So now you're up and running and more importantly, winning.

But beware, online gambling can become addictive. It's a good idea to keep track of your time (use an alarm clock?) and only spend what you can afford to lose (some ewallets have a set cash limit to restrict you here), and above all, don't chase your losses.

Look for online casinos that allow you to set your own spend and session limits and of course, the type of ewallet you will be using.

Do 'cans of worms' spring to mind? Worry not, we have lots of reliable information on this website to help you make your choices, but at the end of the day, of course, it's your call.

Click2Pay
www.click2pay.com

Unlike other e-wallets, Click2Pay operates in a similar way to a credit card. There is no need to fund the account and payments are collected directly by Click2Pay. This is usually by direct debit from your bank account, or by debiting your credit card, although you can choose other payment options such as telephone value added service numbers. The amount due is normally collected immediately.

To open an account, customers register on-line where their details are validated and verified.

Credit status defines the weekly spending limit using a star rating system, with one star being the lowest and six the highest. The amount of each purchase is deducted from the limit, with the limit being restored every 7 days after making a purchase. Transactions can be viewed at any time on Click2Pay's secure website.

Please note this product is not available to customers resident in the US. Applicants must also be aged eighteen or over.

Ecocard
www.ecocard.com

Ecocard is a prepaid virtual debit card aimed at the European market. Until recently, the only method of funding the account was through the European banking sector, however, it is now possible to make deposits using your credit and debit card. At the time of writing, Ecocard do not appear to charge for using this service. After registering on-line, you will undergo ID, security validation and verification checks. Only when you have passed these can you use the card. Be warned, that for some services you may be asked to furnish additional information such as copies of credit cards, government issued photo ID, utility or phone bills, and credit card or bank statements. This is not an exhaustive list. Should you wish to withdraw from the account, you will pay a $US30 flat fee, so it's not cheap. To purchase online you must be registered with the retailer. A visit to the Ecocard website informs US residents they are not allowed to use their Ecocard for Internet gaming.

Entropay
www.entropay.com

Entropay is different to other e-wallets in that it offers a virtual visa card that can be used securely online wherever you see the visa sign. To open an account, you register on the Entropay website then fund your virtual card from your credit or debit card. But be warned. Entropay take a 4.95% cut every time you top up.

There are minimum and maximum limits regarding how much you can pay in as well as how much you can spend. Unfortunately, spending limits apparently depend on various, unknown factors, and are only made available at the time of account opening, at which point it may be too late. You can withdraw deposits made at any time for a charge signicantly less than that levied for paying in, and can view transactions on the Entropay website.

Entropay reserve the right to obtain information from a credit reference agency to verify ID and only offer accounts to those over eighteen years of age.

Please note, this product is not available to customers resident in the US.

Moneybookers
www.moneybookers.com

Moneybookers offers an electronic money service which allows customers to send and receive funds via email login. To open an account, you must be over eighteen and have an email address. Then you simply register with Moneybookers online. Once registered, you must load the account either from you bank account or credit or debit card. If you choose the latter, Moneybookers charge 1.90% of the value of the transaction, whilst the former is free. When you want to send money, all you need is the recipient's email address and bingo!

And it all happens in real time. However, if you want to make a withdrawal, you'll wait between 2 and 5 business days to get your money back, unless it's returned to your credit card. With your bank and debit and credit card registered, you can shop online at over 3,500 outlets without having to provide your details each time.

But should tobacco or prescription drugs be your poison, you'll be disappointed. These are amongst a number of items that are strictly forbidden from being purchased using Moneybookers.

And please note. This service is not available to US residents.

Neteller
www.neteller.com

A Neteller account is opened by registering online. You can load the account by bank transfer or local bank deposit for free. Credit and debit card transactions attract a fee of 1.75%. Neteller offers two accounts - Neteller Express and Neteller Extended. Neteller Express limits bank and credit card deposits, does not permit fund withdrawals, has a spending limit, and can only be used for online purchases. The alternative Extended account, however, has rolling limits on both bank and credit card deposits, allows fund withdrawals, and also offers a prepaid plastic card that can be used at point of sale and in bank ATMs. However, this card is only available in certain countries. As well as the usual US dollar, GBP, and Euro, Neteller offers a range of other currencies, thus eliminating currency conversion costs in those countries. Both withdrawals by bank transfer and ATM transactions using the prepaid card attract a fee. The Extended account appears the better option, however, this can only be opened by requesting an upgrade from Neteller Express, so eligibility rules could apply, and you can't make withdrawals until you have provided acceptable ID. Neteller is not available to US residents.

QuickTender
www.quicktender.com

QuickTender is a prepaid e-wallet service which allows US residents. To apply, simply go to their website and register your details. You can deposit funds by bank transfer, international wire deposit or credit card. Credit card deposits, however, attract a 5.00% fee which is subtracted in US dollars regardless of what currency you use. Not too bad when the dollar's weak, but... Should you wish to make a withdrawal, it is a costly and time consuming process. Each withdrawal attracts a $US30 flat fee, takes three days to action, and 5 business days to arrive at your bank. Withdrawals by wire transfer is the only method available. You can access your transaction history at any time on QuickTender's website, and can make free purchases online wherever you see the UseMyWallet logo.

Ukash
www.ukash.com

Unlike most other e-wallets, with Ukash there is no age limit, no charges and no need to register. You don't have to supply financial information, there are no credit checks, and to qualify all you need is an email address or mobile phone number. It works like this. You buy a voucher, either online using your online banking facilities, or at a local bank. You can buy up to 5 Ukash vouchers with an equivalent value of EUR750 each on any one day. The vouchers are valid for twelve months. You use them to shop online wherever you see the Ukash sign. You just quote the voucher number and that's it. If you don't use your voucher and it's still valid, you can get a refund, although you will have to provide two forms of identification. And if your purchase is less than the value of your voucher, you receive change by way of a new voucher number. It's totally anonymous. The catch? It can take up to 120 hours to receive your voucher, depending on where you happen to be, and it's not available to US residents.

WebMoney Transfer
www.wmtransfer.com

Log onto the website of WebMoney Transfer and it looks complicated. To register, you have to choose between two WebMoney Keeper clients - Keeper Classic and Keeper Light. Keeper Classic is standalone software you download onto your computer. This means you can only use your computer to transact. Keeper Light doesn't require software installation and can be used from any computer linked to the Internet. Next, to add funds you have to create a purse. There are eight purses for eight currencies. Once you have chosen your purse, you can only transfer funds to a purse of the same currency. If, however, you wish to purchase something in another currency, you must first convert your purse. The simplest way to deposit or withdraw funds is by bank wire transfer. Charges are different depending on which currency you are dealing in. A WebMoney Transfer account is not available to US residents. Visit their website for more information.