Canadian poker players are on the lookout for alternative funds transfer methods now that traditional means of adding to their bankrolls (bank transfers, credit card transfers, etc.) are becoming harder to do business with. Hopefully, the paranoia about Canadian online poker will die down and these more traditional methods will become available again. Until then, third party transfer methods like eWallets and prepaid cards are your best choice.
The EcoCard is one of these virtual wallets, a payment method that lets Canadian poker players send fast and safe deposits to their poker accounts. Transfers to poker sites from your EcoCard eWallet are simple: wait for your funds to appear on your EcoCard account and click to transfer it to the poker cashier you prefer for poker play.
Founded in 2000, EcoCard is a confidential and well-liked way for Canadians to make online payments to merchants of all types, including deposits made to their online poker site. Online poker players look for methods that are easy to use, inexpensive, and without much hassle. Security and confidentiality are also big reasons to choose a legitimate eWallet for funding your account. The trick is to find a poker room that accepts Canadian wagers and EcoCard deposits.
Having paired up with MasterCard in recent years, a company that still allows online poker deposits via their prepaid cards, EcoCard account holders enjoy the benefits of MasterCard partnership: such as the ability to send transfers to any online merchant that accepts MasterCard payments. That opens up a whole world of online poker options for players who enjoy EcoCard for their third party funds transfers. EcoCard / MasterCard is accepted in many different world currencies and EcoCard / MasterCard is recognized as a global online payment processing method.
What Are EcoCard Poker Deposits?
The EcoCard payment service is known for security and ease of use. Deposits made to poker sites with EcoCard are guaranteed secure; EcoCard will never disclose your personal account or financial information with any other third party, including the poker room you’re depositing cash to. Another big reason for trusting EcoCard with your poker money is that they get the job done without too many fees or other charges to make deposits.
Legislation in America prevents EcoCard from being used in that country to make deposits to online poker sites, but thankfully EcoCard can distinguish between different countries in North America, and Canadian customers are still (as of this writing) able to use this inexpensive and well-reviewed third party funding service.
Funding Canadian EcoCard Accounts
EcoCard still lets their Canadian customers fund their EcoCard accounts directly from their regular checking account or credit card, even though other payment systems (including the banks and credit cards themselves) have pulled out of the Canadian market. Once you send cash to your EcoCard account from a checking account or credit card, you can instantly send cash to your poker account online, provided the poker room you’re signing up with accepts EcoCard payments.
This way, you don’t have to reveal any personal financial information to the poker room, just to EcoCard, whose partnership with MasterCard gives them an air of legitimacy not enjoyed by other eWallet or prepaid services.
The reason these deposits are legal is because your bank deposit is being sent to EcoCard and not to the online poker site you do business with. In fact, this also reduces your risk of having your payment rejected by your local bank or credit card company significantly, with EcoCard reporting (as all eWallets tend to report) 99% acceptance. There’s nothing to back up that claim, but there you have it.
Starting up your EcoCard account is free, doesn’t take very long, and allows for instant deposits to poker room accounts. The sign up is literally free, though you may face small fees for various transactions, funds transfer fees and other service charges. This is definitely true of deposits to poker accounts, so check out the fee structure imposed by your specific poker room before you get too deep into the payment transfer process.
Requirements for Canadians to Use EcoCard Deposits
EcoCard requirements for Canadians are still very simple, since EcoCard is a recognized funds transfer service that faces no Canadian legislation affecting the way they do business. You’ll need your bank account information, some personal details, and a little bit of time to get the card up and running, but aside from that, the process is very streamlined.
Canadian EcoCard Online Poker Sites
For Canadians who want to use EcoCard to fund their online poker accounts, we recommend 888 Poker, one of the best-reviewed and most popular Canadian-facing poker rooms accepting EcoCard funds transfers from Canadians.
888 Poker is a branch of 888 gaming properties providing online poker all over the world. Launched in the summer of 2002 with a gaming license from Gibraltar, 888 Poker is owned by 888 Holdings, a publicly traded company on the London stock exchange. 888 Poker accepts EcoCard transfers, and their first deposit bonus offer is a 100% match that’s good up to $600. If you’re into 3D graphics and unique avatars, 888 Poker has it, as well as a beginner’s lobby for online poker newbies and a no-download option for people who run Mac or Linux systems or don’t want to download a poker client.
Canadian Law and EcoCard Deposits
Canadian poker players looking for a way to add to their bankroll face some challenges. No longer able to simply send money directly from their checking account or credit card, third party transfer services like EcoCard are becoming more popular. Canadians who want to increase their poker player account need services like EcoCard to make sure their transactions are safe, and the more third party services you look into before choosing one, the more likely you are to find a service that you like. Currently, no laws affect Canadians use of EcoCard, and their partnership with MasterCard is enough to convince most players of the service’s legitimacy.
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