Online Poker Payment Processors

eChecks have been eliminated at certain sites that operate in the U.S., but they are still being offered as deposit and withdrawal options at sites like Poker Stars and as a withdrawal option at Full Tilt. It is still possible to use a direct bank draft or bank wire at some banks, but they will no doubt become harder as U.S. regulations are fully put in place.

For non-Americans, these methods will be options indefinately, depending on the online poker room. They are all very similar, as they take money directly from your bank account and send it to the poker room. An eCheck is just what it sounds like - you are cutting a check, but without the paper. You simply read off the information from a check, along with a dollar amount, and there you go.

Bank Drafts are like eChecks, but without a check number. With these, you are authorizing a poker room to pull money directly from your bank account. Many people use automatic drafts to pay household bills, avoiding the need to remember to pay every month.

Bank wires (also called wire transfers) require a trip to the bank. While the bank will charge a fee, the poker room will generally not. Be sure to verify whether or not there is a fee to cash out via wire.