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Online Casino Gift Cards vs Debit Cards: What’s Better For New Users

Drew Ellis

By Drew Ellis in Online Casino

Published:


US online casino gift cards

If you’re getting started with a new online casino, one of the first choices you will have to make is a deposit option.

Among the popular choices are online casino gift cards, as well as debit cards.

Each brings their own positives and negatives, so we will break down the option that best suits your needs.

Top Available Online Casinos for New Users

Before we get into deposit options, it’s good to know which online casinos are legally available in the US.

Here’s the top US online casino options right now, along with their online casino bonus offers.

BETMGM T&C: Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO/KY/MD/OH/MI/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV) or (888) 789-7777 or http://ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), (800)-327-5050 or http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), or www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), or http://1800gambler.net (WV)
DRAFTKINGS T&C: 21+. Physically present in MI/NJ/PA/WV. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. 1 per new DraftKings Casino customer. Opt-in req. Min. $5 in wagers req. Max. 1,000 Flex Spins issued for choice of Select Games. Spins issued as 50 Spins/day upon login for 20 days. Spins are non-withdrawable and expire 24 hours after choosing Select Game. $0.20 per Spin. Game availability may vary. Terms: casino.draftkings.com/promos. Education Hub: dkng.co/HowToPlay. Ends 8/30/26 at 11:59 PM ET.
BET365 T&C: GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Please gamble responsibly. Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/MO/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply.

Online Casino Debit Card Banking

Every legal US online casino will accept a debit card as a deposit option.

Debit cards are directly tied to users bank accounts. Transactions are made with available cash funds, as opposed to credit cards that use credit instead of cash.

When it comes to online casino banking, each will accept Visa debit cards and Mastercard debit cards as options for making a deposit.

It’s an easy process that will reflect immediately on your online casino account, as well as your bank account once the transaction is complete.

Debit cards can also be used for withdrawals. They are one of the fastest banking options available. Once an online casino processes a withdrawal, funds should be reflected in your bank account within a matter of hours.

Online Casino Gift Cards

Not every online casino has gift card options, but quite a few do.

These are prepaid cards with preset amounts of funds that you enter into your iGaming account to use for real money casino gaming. A gift card allows you to fund your online casino account without having to get your banking information involved.

There are multiple online casinos that have their own branded gift cards. That includes:

  • BetMGM
  • DraftKings
  • theScore Bet/Hollywood Casino

In the case of Hollywood Casino, PENN Play Gift Cards can also be used to fund your online account.

There are also Game On Gift Cards. These are gift cards that work for a series of online casinos depending on the state you are in. Game On Gift Cards work with the following brands:

  • BetMGM
  • betPARX
  • BetRivers
  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel

In all cases, these gift cards are available at many retail stores located throughout legal online casino states. That includes the likes of CVS, Walmart, 7-11, Sheetz, Dollar General, and more.

One aspect where gift cards are lacking is they are not a withdrawal option. These gift cards can only be used for making a deposit.

Play+ Cards for Online Casinos

Another option to consider borders between a gift card and a debit card.

The Play+ Card allows you to fund your online casino account without having to tie to your bank, but also allows for greater funding options than a typical gift card.

A Play+ account is a separate account that a customer has where they can continue to add funds to it and then you that card to make payments for things like online casinos.

Most legal online casinos are now accepting Play+ cards as a deposit option.

Even better, it is also acceptable to make an online casino withdrawal using the Play+ card. It has emerged as one of the fastest iGaming withdrawal methods.

How Debit Cards, Gift Cards Compare

Card FeatureDebit CardGift CardPlay+ Card
AvailabilityAll Online CasinosSelect Online CasinosMost Online Casinos
Connected To Bank AccountYesNoNo
Deposit OptionYesYesYes
Withdrawal OptionYesNoYes
Processing TimeInstantInstantInstant
Funding LimitsNoYes No
Best ForUsers not concerned about tying their bank account to an online casino, want quick transactionsUsers that want to limit their online casino use and not connect a bank accountUsers that don’t want to connect a bank account but will be a more frequent online casino player

As you can see, each card option has their benefits. All work effectively, it’s just a matter of how much you want to play and if you want to connect your banking information to your iGaming account.

Drew Ellis

Drew Ellis has decades of experience in media covering sports, gambling and general news. He has provided news coverage for online and retail casino developments across the US and around the globe.

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