eCheck Casinos Overview
An eCheck, or electronic check, is the digital equivalent of a traditional paper check. It's also known as an online check, internet check, or direct debit.
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Payment Method Type | Direct Debit |
Year Founded | 1996 |
Headquarters | Utah, USA |
What Does eCheck Offer?
In the USA, payment service provider Authorize (dot) Net, which is a Visa Inc. subsidiary, provides a solution for customers to electronically deposit funds from their bank accounts to the bank accounts of various merchants, including online casinos.
To use an eCheck for online casino payments, register for an e-check service via your bank or payment processors like Square, Stripe, or PayPal. After that, enter the payment details and approve the transaction.
While the experience might feel similar to depositing paper checks at the bank, electronic checks harness the power of digital data transfer, bypassing the need for physical check deposits.
Author’s note
Electronic transactions have different names worldwide. The U.S. calls them "e-checks", the U.K. uses terms like "BACS Payment" or "bank transfer", Canada refers to them as "e-transfers", and many European countries use "giro transfer".
When using eChecks at online casinos, you can make deposits and withdrawals without exposing your bank details.
Fees
The price for eCheck processing varies based on your selected payment processor. While some processors levy a fixed fee typically ranging from $0.30 to $1.50 for each transaction, others apply a percentage, generally spanning between 0.5% to 1.5% of the transaction value.
You can find more about how eChecks work on payment management solutions provider Paysimple’s website.
Is eCheck Safe?
While electronic checks were once seen as a low-risk payment method given that fraudulent activities were primarily focused on checks and wire transfers, eCheck-related fraud has increased in recent times.
The simplicity of executing this fraud further exacerbates the problem. A bad actor only requires an account number and bank routing number. Armed with just these details, they can effortlessly initiate payments, whether for shopping or settling debts.
This is why I recommend switching to simpler and safer payment methods like PayPal for casino transactions.
How to Use eCheck at a Casino?
Keep in mind
Electronic checks are processed via computer-based electronic networks (in the USA, it’s called ACH or Automated Clearing House network). While cross-border ACH payments are possible, based on which country you are in, the network name may vary.
Here’s how to use electronic checks at an online casino:
- Register at your preferred online casino;
- Navigate to the casino's cashier section and choose the eCheck option;
- Input your personal details;
- Locate the routing number (ACH), account number, and eCheck number;
- Provide your eCheck details, including account type, social security number, account, and routing numbers;
- Select the deposit amount;
- Click the deposit button and start playing.
Is eCheck Worth It?
While eCheck bears the legacy of traditional checks, its security might not be as robust as some other payment options. The simplicity of eCheck casinos can make them a potential target for bad actors, especially since only an account number and a bank routing number are required to initiate payments.
I recommend alternatives like PayPal online casinos, for instance, as the payment method has built a reputation for its advanced security features and layers of encryption. In any case, you need to register yourself with any of those payment processors to get started. So it makes sense that you stick to one payment method only and carry out casino transactions securely.