Review of Canada ACH casino payments for deposit and withdrawal.
In today’s technological age, we have a multiplicity of ways to move funds from one place to another. In years past, the fastest way to transfer money over a long distance was either by bank wire transfer or a cash transfer agency. Both are quick, but can be very costly. Online banking and payment processing has widened the field tremendously.
Online casino enthusiasts will find no shortage of payment methods on today’s most distinguished iGaming websites. At last count, one of my favorite haunts—Royal Vegas Casino—listed about 40 different options for players from every reach of the world. Most of today’s major casinos now offer everything from credit, debit and prepaid cards, to a plethora of web wallets, to instant eChecks, ACH, and bank wire transfers.
One of the least talked about methods of deposit and withdrawal at online casinos are ACH payments.
What are ACH Payments?
ACH stands for Automated Clearing House. According to the Oxford Dictionary, ACH is defined as:
noun: “the electronic clearing and settlement system used for financial transactions by US commercial banks and other institutions.”
That definition is a bit antiquated. While ACH did originate in the US, it should now state “…by North American commercial banks and institutions”. This electronic payment network is employed by 98% of all financial institutions in the US, all US territories, and the entire nation of Canada, including government savings banks and credit unions.
According to ACHNetwork’s Intro to ACH, the range of availability should increase in the near future. They’re in the process of creating a new W.A.T.C.H. network, short for Worldwide Automated Transaction Clearing House. Until then, only bank account holders located in North America can use the service.
ACH is most commonly used for Direct Deposits – things like payroll, income tax checks, and other direct payments into the customer’s bank account. For this reason, players aren’t just able to employ ACH deposits, but also ACH cashouts at most casino websites where the method is accepted.
Bank Wire Transfer vs. ACH Casinos Canada
ACH payments work on a batch-processing system. Banks will collect all ACH payments received in a single day, then process them collectively at the end of that day. The funds are then made available to the receiver at the start of the following business day. Anyone who’s ever received a paycheck via direct deposit should already be familiar with the setup.
This is similar to how bank wire transfers work. However, processing of bank wires occurs almost immediately upon reception. Due to the batching method, ACH payments are easier for banks to process. And although it does take an extra day for the funds to post, they are considerably cheaper, too.
In most cases, neither gambling sites nor banks will charge a fee for ACH casino deposits. Withdrawals, on the other hand, will generally accrue a small fee from the receiving bank.
Instant Deposits at Canada ACH Casinos
Based on the information above, it would seem impossible for ACH casino deposits to be instant. After all, the bank won’t post the funds until the next business day. Fortunately, there are two separate processes that take place.
The moment an ACH payment initiates, the sending and receiving banks will electronically communicate the availability of the funds. If the account from which the funds derive is sufficient, the receiving bank will instantly know that the funds are available, and will arrive.
Even though an online casino does not have that payment in their hands yet, they are perfectly willing to credit the player for the deposit without delay. Thus depositing with ACH is just as quick as using a credit card, debit card, web wallet, or any other instant payment method.
