Gift Cards/Cert/Voucher, Bonus Card, Club Card Online Casinos

It’s no secret that player demand for a more diverse selection of online casino payment methods has spiked significantly in the past decade. With the popularity of these entertainment hubs reaching new heights, a new wave of players from previously untapped markets is now showing interest in trying this modern form of real-money gaming. To diversify their portfolios of payment solutions, many online casino operators have turned to a unique option no one could have expected – Gift Cards! While unconventional, adding support for these vouchers allows a whole new range of players to enjoy casino classics. Gift Cards, Loyalty Cards, and Bonus Cards are a big part of countless international brands, after all, so their addition covers a whole new niche of users. If you’re hoping to learn more about how these services operate in the online gaming world, stick around.

About Gift Cards

Before we proceed any further, we’d like to clear up what we classify as a Gift Card. When we refer to these payment solutions, we aren’t exclusively talking about traditional Gift Cards. The traditional form of these services encompasses a prepaid card that can be exchanged for a specified cash amount or valued item/service from a specific business or brand. A great example of this would be a Best Buy Gift Certificate from the popular US chain of markets. Users can pick up one of these cards, let’s say a $50 one, and use it to purchase items valued at $50 at Best Buy locations.

On top of traditional Gift Cards, we include Bonus Cards in this category. In contrast to the previous type we mentioned, these cards are special tokens awarded by brands that grant users price reductions, unique promos, and a way to accumulate Loyalty Points that can be later converted to monetary value up to a specific limit. Club Cards operate similarly to Bonus Cards, but they’re generally given to frequent shoppers that visit the brand regularly. We include both Bonus Cards and Club Cards under the Gift Card umbrella, so be mindful of this going forward.

It’s not hard to see why Gift Cards are now making their way into online casinos worldwide. These options are pretty much available through every major brand out there, whether it’s a market chain, a big-name payment service, a large online retailer, an entertainment services provider, a tech company, or pretty much anything you can imagine. These reward tokens are common stances in various industries, and we tend to encounter them regularly. Around the holiday season, they’re an even bigger hit, as they’re the perfect last-minute gift for hard-to-shop-for individuals, hence the name!

While these payment alternatives are an unusual solution available globally, the question of how well they perform in the online gambling space, and out of it, still stands. Interestingly enough, there are plenty of benefits to using Gift Cards as your primary online gambling payment method. The main one comes from their prepaid nature, and you likely already know what we’re referring to. Of course, we’re talking about anonymity! To deposit through one of these cards, most of the time, all you need is a security code. There’s no need to share personal information with the retailer or operator, keeping your private details safely tucked away from the World Wide Web.

Of course, that’s not where the positives of using Gift Cards end. Since most of these solutions come in pre-set denominations, they’re an excellent way to take control of your spending. You likely won’t be able to make a massive deposit all at once through one of these options, so they implore you to manage your money more carefully, which can be beneficial in the long run. Of course, this is a double-edged sword. If you’re a casino high roller that lives for the thrill of taking bigger risks, depositing a larger sum will be a much more drawn-out and complicated ordeal than necessary.

How to Start Using Gift Cards

Using Gift Cards to start your online gambling journey can be a bit of a mixed bag. While the process of taking your certificate and inputting it in the correct format on the casino website is a simple task, sometimes, picking up one of these vouchers can be a pain. Naturally, this all depends on the particular brand you’re getting the card from. For example, classic Gift Cards tend to be the easiest to get your hands on. You can find one in a denomination you like and purchase it online or in-store in seconds. This is usually the case with cards from big retailers like Walmart and popular payment brands like VISA and MasterCard.

Of course, things are a bit different if you’re not using a classic Gift Card option. If you’ve opted to use a Bonus Card or Club Card instead, you might need to do a bit of work before you accumulate the sum you need for a deposit. For example, some loyalty cards grant users a Money Voucher after spending a specific amount on their business. Other reward users in different ways. For example, you might need to follow the specific rules of a seasonal promotion to get a monetary top-up on your card. These are just a few examples. Depending on the brand, there are countless ways to win cash that you can later use through your voucher.

Something we should mention about Loyalty Cards and adjacent services is you might need to visit a physical location to pick one of them up, or request them online before you can even partake in earning rewards. These vouchers tend to require filling out a short form with some basic personal information. This process only takes a few seconds, but since they’re promotional products, you’ll likely be opening up a line for the business to reach out with various marketing offers.

Depositing and Withdrawing With Gift Cards

Making a Gift Card deposit at an online casino is pretty simple. On one end, the process is made easy by the method itself. Since there’s no need for a user account to use one of these vouchers, all you need to do is enter your card’s security code in the required field to get the job done. On the other end, the process is easy as it’s a familiar one. Most online casinos have streamlined the payment step, making it almost identical, no matter what payment option you choose. That said, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to deposit using this service:

1. Look for the Gift Card’s logo on the list of Payment Methods/Deposit Methods in the casino’s Cashier/Banking/Payments section.
2. Click or tap on it, and a new pop-up window will appear.
3. Enter the voucher’s security code in the required field.
4. Enter the amount you’d like to deposit in the required field.
5. After the authentication procedure, confirm your transaction.
6. As soon as you’ve confirmed it, the money will arrive in your balance!

Depositing with a Gift Card might be a breeze, but when withdrawals come into play, you’ll likely be sorely disappointed. Since these services are essentially prepaid cards, you can’t use them for casino withdrawals, or withdrawals of any kind for that matter. They’re connected to a specific brand, so even in the case of loyalty cards, they can only be topped up by the brand in question when you meet specific requirements. Naturally, this means that you’ll need to search for alternative options to cash out your winnings. We recommend going for modern options, such as eWallets, as they’re quicker than most traditional payment services.

Coverage and Restrictions

The coverage and restrictions of Gift Cards are pretty specific. Since these vouchers are awarded by specific brands, they tend to be operational in the same regions they operate. Thankfully, most countries include a brand or two that support Gift Card options, so if you want to use them, you shouldn’t have a hard time getting your hands on one. Unfortunately, not all of these services are supported across online casinos. Most of the time, operators accept payments through VISA, MasterCard, Apple, Google Play, and other popular brand vouchers. Niche options tend to be excluded from the list.

Fees and Additional Charges

One of the best things about Gift Cards is that there’s usually no fee attached to them. You won’t be charged anything over your transaction amount, so you can enjoy your planned gaming budget in its entirety. Something to note is that in some cases, you might need to pay a bit more than the amount on the card if you’re purchasing it in-store or online. For example, a $10 gift card might be $11 to buy. This isn’t uncommon, but thankfully, the difference in the purchase price and the value of the card is very minor.

Accepted Currencies

As we already mentioned, Gift Cards are available through various brands that can operate in multiple territories. Depending on where you’re located, you’ll most likely find Gift Cards in your local currency. Of course, this isn’t always the case. Many international brands offer vouchers that anyone can purchase, no matter where they’re located. Since most of these international brands are based in the USA, they tend to support the US dollar, which is reflected in the value of the card. Of course, this isn’t always the case. Some might come in British pounds, euros, etc.

Customer Support

If you run into trouble when trying to redeem your Gift Card, the best option is to contact the issuing brand of the voucher. Naturally, the quality of the response you receive can vary drastically. While most brands, especially the well-known ones, have responsive Customer Support teams that are bound to sort things out quickly, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, the issue may be coming from the operator’s end. If you suspect this is the case, then it’s best to reach out to the casino’s Customer Support instead of turning to the issuing card brand itself.

Conclusion

Gift Cards are an unconventional casino payment method, but given their nature, they’re an excellent way to turn a surprise you might not have expected into a fun time with some of your favorite entertainment. Their anonymity makes them a great pick for users concerned about privacy, and their ease of use is a massive time-saver in general. Of course, the biggest concern with these services is their reach. There are countless Gift Card options from various brands, and unfortunately, not all casinos are equipped to support them.

FAQs

Are Gift Cards safe?

Yes, they are. Gift cards are prepaid payment services that grant users anonymity when transacting online. To use them, you also need a unique security code provided with each card.

Where are Gift Cards available?

Gift cards are available worldwide. Since they’re issued by various brands, you can find local and international options in most countries.

What are good withdrawal alternatives for Gift Cards?

Since they’re prepaid payment options, Gift Cards don’t support withdrawals. Some excellent alternatives you can try are eWallets. These modern solutions foster instant withdrawals and are generally super safe.

Do Gift Cards have fees?

Generally, no. In some cases, you might need to pay a small purchase fee when picking up a card online or at the store.

Are there any limits on Gift Cards transfers?

Generally, yes. Most gift cards come in specific denominations, such as $10, $50, $100, etc.