Prepaid Cards and Vouchers
Prepaid Cards & Vouchers (Paysafecard, Flexepin, AstroPay, etc.)
Prepaid payment methods offer a way to deposit funds without directly using a bank or card on the poker site. The most common vouchers used are Paysafecard and Flexepin in Canada, and virtual prepaid cards like AstroPay. GGPoker, for example, accepts Paysafecard codes for deposits. JackPoker supports Flexepin vouchers (widely available in Canadian convenience stores), which lets players purchase a voucher for cash and then enter the code to deposit online. AstroPay Card is offered on sites like GGPoker and WPT Global; it works as a virtual prepaid card that you can top up and then use as a deposit method.
Some sites also list generic “eVouchers” or region-specific prepaid methods: for instance, WPT Global lists JetonCash and eVoucher options for deposits, and JackPoker lists Boleto and Pay4Fun (prepaid methods popular in Brazil) for their international users. These voucher-based methods are deposit-only – they provide a way to put money in, but not to withdraw.
Some sites also list generic “eVouchers” or region-specific prepaid methods: for instance, WPT Global lists JetonCash and eVoucher options for deposits, and JackPoker lists Boleto and Pay4Fun (prepaid methods popular in Brazil) for their international users. These voucher-based methods are deposit-only – they provide a way to put money in, but not to withdraw.
The advantage of prepaid vouchers is that they allow for a degree of anonymity and control. You don’t need to share any bank or card details with the poker site – you simply redeem a code. This can be useful for players who don’t have other online payment means or who wish to use cash to fund online play (e.g. buy a Paysafecard with cash locally, then use it to deposit). It’s also a way to limit spending – you can only deposit what the voucher is worth, which can help with bankroll management. Deposits via vouchers are usually instantaneous and fee-free (aside from perhaps a small purchase fee when buying the voucher).
The downside is you cannot withdraw winnings back to a voucher. Instead, if you deposit this way, you’ll have to choose an alternative withdrawal method (often a bank transfer or e-wallet withdrawal). Poker sites usually require that at least part of your withdrawal goes through a method you’ve used to deposit (for anti-fraud reasons), so with a one-way deposit like Paysafecard, the common procedure is that you’ll withdraw via bank transfer. Some sites even mark voucher methods in the cashier as “deposit only” (for example, WPT Global shows “NA” for withdrawal limits on eVoucher deposits).
Another consideration: vouchers have denomination limits – you might be limited to certain amounts per voucher (Flexepin, for instance, comes in set values like $20, $50, $100 etc.). Large deposits would require multiple vouchers entered sequentially. Mobile compatibility is decent; while you obviously can’t buy a physical voucher through the poker app, you can enter a voucher code on mobile to deposit.
Overall, prepaid cards/vouchers are a safe and private deposit method, but require a bit more effort to use and always necessitate a separate withdrawal solution.
Pros and Cons
The downside is you cannot withdraw winnings back to a voucher. Instead, if you deposit this way, you’ll have to choose an alternative withdrawal method (often a bank transfer or e-wallet withdrawal). Poker sites usually require that at least part of your withdrawal goes through a method you’ve used to deposit (for anti-fraud reasons), so with a one-way deposit like Paysafecard, the common procedure is that you’ll withdraw via bank transfer. Some sites even mark voucher methods in the cashier as “deposit only” (for example, WPT Global shows “NA” for withdrawal limits on eVoucher deposits).
Another consideration: vouchers have denomination limits – you might be limited to certain amounts per voucher (Flexepin, for instance, comes in set values like $20, $50, $100 etc.). Large deposits would require multiple vouchers entered sequentially. Mobile compatibility is decent; while you obviously can’t buy a physical voucher through the poker app, you can enter a voucher code on mobile to deposit.
Overall, prepaid cards/vouchers are a safe and private deposit method, but require a bit more effort to use and always necessitate a separate withdrawal solution.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Privacy and anonymity – you can purchase a Paysafecard or Flexepin voucher with cash or without linking to your personal bank, then use the code to fund your online poker account. This keeps your gambling spend off of bank records. It’s a very secure method in the sense that no sensitive financial data is shared online at all.
- Deposits are instant once you enter the voucher code, and there are no deposit fees charged by the poker rooms for redeeming vouchers. It’s a convenient way to use cash or gift card funds for online play.
- Can help with budgeting – for instance, you might decide your poker spend for the month by buying a $100 voucher and you cannot exceed that without making a conscious effort to buy another. Mobile use: you can type voucher codes on a phone just as easily as on desktop, so it’s mobile-friendly (though buying the voucher might require going to a store unless you buy online).
Cons
Prepaid vouchers are a safe and discreet way to deposit, but they lack flexibility for withdrawals and can be slightly less convenient than other methods.
- The biggest drawback is that vouchers are one-way – you cannot withdraw back to a Paysafecard or Flexepin. Any winnings will need to come out via a different channel (bank transfer, etc.), which adds an extra step. This also means you must satisfy the poker site’s rules for alternative withdrawals (usually they ask for at least one successful deposit by the method you want to withdraw with, for security).
- There’s a bit more hassle to use prepaid cards: you have to obtain them either online or at a retail location. If buying in person, that’s an extra errand to run. If buying online, you might actually use another payment method (like Interac or card) on a voucher-selling website – which could moot the privacy benefit.
- Limits: vouchers often come in predefined amounts; if you need to deposit an odd figure or a large amount, you might need multiple vouchers and multiple redemption transactions. For example, to deposit $500, you might have to combine five $100 codes. Some voucher systems allow combining codes, but it’s an extra step. Additionally, while the poker site doesn’t charge a fee, the voucher issuer might – e.g., Paysafecard after a certain time will deduct a maintenance fee from any remaining balance, and buying a Flexepin from a reseller might include a small commission.
Prepaid vouchers are a safe and discreet way to deposit, but they lack flexibility for withdrawals and can be slightly less convenient than other methods.
