Using Bank Transfer at Casinos

Casino sites have been around since 1994, when Microgaming (now a renowned game provider) opened the virtual doors of its online casino. Over the next three decades, hundreds of others emerged, and they all had one thing in common — bank transfers were the primary payment option.

Still, it often comes up in discussions between players, even after the introduction of digital wallets and cryptocurrencies. Although bank transfers trail behind those modern-day options in more ways than one, nearly every casino still offers them. 

Why Should I Use Bank Transfers in Online Casinos?

While the efficiency of bank transfers for online casino payments in 2025 is up for debate, they remain the most widespread option. Almost every player of legal age has a bank account, and international transfers are quite common for online casinos. 

Accessibility isn’t the only strong suit of bank account payments. Here’s a breakdown of the main benefits:

• Available for deposits and withdrawals — Unlike other options like prepaid cards and digital vouchers, bank transfers can be used for both deposits and cashouts. In most cases, you won’t even need to select it as your default withdrawal method. It’s enough to make an initial payment, and the operator site will flag it as your preferred payment option. 
• High-end security measures — Bank transfers are among the safest means of payment because of their military-grade security protocols. Banks usually use data encryption through SSL or other high-end protocols, making them highly secure.
• Higher limits — There’s no better option for high-rollers to transfer large cash sums to casino accounts than bank transfers. The limits can often be adjusted by reaching out to your branch’s representative, making it even more convenient. However, higher deposits and withdrawals might incur higher fees. 
• Easy access to support — If you find yourself in an unfortunate twist of events with payment-related issues, at least you’ll always know where to turn. There’s no chance of making an unsuccessful bank transfer without a clear explanation as to why it happened. For instance, if you haven’t received your payout, you can contact the bank’s support team, who will work with you to solve the underlying issue.

How to Use Bank Transfers for Deposits

Before using a bank transfer for deposits, you’ll need to find a trustworthy casino. Once you’ve decided on one, you can sign up and log into your account to fund your bankroll. Here are some simple steps you can follow:

1. Navigate to the cashier section: First, head over to the site's banking section to explore the available deposit options. 
2. Select Bank Transfer from the available options: Once there, select Bank Transfer from the list of methods.
3. Enter the required credentials: The site will require you to type in some key information related to your bank account. That might include payment instructions like the SWIFT number or other information. Others allow you to use payment tokens that you can create within your online banking app and then use the token to verify the transaction. 
4. Enter your deposit amount: The next step will require you to enter a deposit amount. Make sure to check the limits since every casino has a different minimum/maximum range. For instance, the minimum deposit at most casinos ranges from $10 to $20.
5. Approve the secure transfer: From there, you just need to verify the transaction. You can often do this using a one-time security code created in your banking app. Your deposits should reach the account within two business days.

How to Withdraw Your Winnings Using Bank Transfer

Once you hit it big in an online casino, you’ll be able to use bank transfers for withdrawals. However, you should note that cash-out pending periods are relatively long, often up to 5 business days. Here are the main steps to follow:

1. Select bank transfer as your preferred payout method: Sometimes, the operator automatically sets the bank account you’ve listed for deposits as a preferred withdrawal destination. Otherwise, you can just return to the cashier section and select Bank Transfer.
2. Enter the withdrawal amount: The next step is to enter your withdrawal amount. Every casino has specified minimum and maximum withdrawal limits, so check that before continuing. 
3. Carry out a security confirmation: In most cases, bank transfer casinos require you to pass rigorous KYC checks. So, you might need to verify your identity by uploading your ID, driver’s license, or a copy of the last utility bill to confirm the transaction. At this point, you just need to wait for the funds to reach your account.

Bank Transfer Fees and Limits 

In most cases, online casino operators do not charge fees related to bank transfer deposits or withdrawals. However, you might have to pay a certain banking fee when cashouts are sent to your account.

These can vary quite a bit depending on your bank. Some financial institutions charge a fixed fee of $2.5 or more per transaction. Others might charge 1% or 1.5% of the withdrawal sum, so make sure to inquire about the costs before using wire transfers for withdrawals. In terms of limits, they go from as low as $5 or $10 per transaction to massive amounts suitable for high-rollers.

Pros and Cons of Bank Transfers for Casino Payments

As mentioned, bank transfers are widely available, which is undoubtedly an advantage. Still, not everything about the method is perfect, and here’s an unbiased look at the main pros and cons:

Pros:

• Widely accepted payment option available in nearly every casino
• Equally convenient for both deposits and withdrawals
• As secure as any payment method
• Ideal for high-rollers that don’t want to take any chances with high amounts
• Transactions overseen by major financial institutions

Cons:

• Relatively long pending periods
• Withdrawals often take up to 5 business days
• Possible high fees 
• Casino transfers show up on your tax reports 

Bank Transfer vs. Alternatives — How Does It Stack Up?

Bank transfers are a solid all-around solution for casino deposits and withdrawals. However, you could say they’re outdated since new and modern methods like e-wallets offer seemingly the same benefits without the main drawbacks.

For instance, services like Skrill and Neteller also operate under the scrutiny of large financial institutions. Their safety is on par with that of bank transfers, but their processing times are much shorter. Also, bank transfers are highly transparent and appear on your transaction and tax reports. While we can discuss the nuances, one thing is for sure — they’re not the best option out there if you wish to make instant transactions with zero fees.