There is no card-based financial institution more famous than Visa. Whether it’s a credit card, debit card, gift card, or prepaid virtual card, if it bears the Visa logo, acceptance is unequivocal. I mean, if you think about it, no one ever really asks, “Do you take Visa?“
It’s the most accepted form of payment on the planet; more so than cash, since there are so many different forms of currency across the globe. Visa payments can instantly convert between 165+ currencies (for an exchange fee, of course).
What is it that makes Visa’s multifarious line of financial products and services so appealing to more than 3 billion global customers and 60,000+ merchants worldwide? Perhaps it’s a trust thing. Afterall, they’ve been around for more than half a century. Or maybe it’s the brand’s reputation as a leader in things like innovation, equality and environmental sustainability? Maybe it’s just the name; short, sweet, easy to remember. But it probably has more to do with the quality of full-feature services Visa provides.
Visa Friendly Casinos
- Visa, MasterCard, JCB
- GPay, Apple Pay
- 10 CAD Min Deposit
- 150 Chances to win $1M
- www.grandmondialcasino.com
- 90%
- Instant
- Yes*
- Visa Gift Cards
- Virtual Visa
- 5 CAD Min Deposit
- 100 Chances to win $1M
- www.captaincooks.com
- 85%
- Instant
- Yes*
- Flexepin
- Paysafecard
- 10 CAD Min Deposit
- Up to 1000 CAD Bonus
- www.luxurycasino.com
- 88%
- Instant
- Yes*
Much Ado About Visa …
On the whole, Visa and Virtual Visa payments account for the largest margin of card-based payments in the world. Research indicates there are more than 2.5bn Visa debit cards in issuance worldwide, compared to 1.47bn MasterCard debit cards. That puts Visa out front of its only top-shelf rival by nearly 2-to-1. And that’s just bank-issued debit cards.
Visa is responsible for issuing more than 52% of the world’s major credit cards, with more than 335 million in circulation. The company’s Vanilla Visa Gift Card ranks as the #2 most popular prepaid card in 2024, right behind Amazon gift cards. Visa ranks far higher in terms of versatility, though. Amazon gift cards are, of course, restricted to Amazon purchases, whereas a prepaid Visa can be used pretty much anywhere, online or on land (including Amazon).
Visa’s virtual product line is growing at an especially rapid rate. They are usually purchased online, and are limited to online usage, but the rate of e-commerce is skyrocketing. The percentage of Canadians who bought groceries online rose from 5% to 17% between 2016 and 2020, jumping to 42% by mid-2021. Overall, Canadians spent over CA$70bn in online retail purchases in 2021; a figure Statista projects will surpass CA$118bn in 2025. With those kinds of numbers, there’s no doubt Virtual Visa cards will play a key role in financing global e-commerce sales.
#1 Choice for iGaming Deposits
Virtual Visa is already one of the easiest and most secure ways to get money into online gaming and gambling accounts. It’s ultra secure, and isn’t linked to the user’s identity. This eliminates any and all risk to a user’s personal and financial information. Virtual Visa deposits are simple to execute, and process in a matter of seconds. Plus, there are no extra fees to worry about. It’s also worth mentioning that the vast majority of Canadian online casinos support this method of payment.
These are just some of the highlights and features we’ll be putting under the microscope in the following guide to Virtual Visa gift card casino deposits. And be sure to stick around for our Little-Known Visa Fun Facts at the end, too!
What is Virtual Visa ?
A Virtual Visa is similar to a debit card, except for two resounding factors.
- It’s not connected to you, or your bank account, in any way.
- Because it is a “virtual” card, as opposed to a real card, it can only be used online or over the phone.
In essence, a Virtual Visa is an online gift card that dons the Visa logo. What separates Virtual Visa from traditional gift cards is that it’s not brand-specific. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, so long as a physical card is not required (i.e. good for use online, but not in-store).
Why is this so important for gamblers? For a couple of reasons…
Give (or Get) The Gift of Online Gambling
First of all, it gives iGamers a way to receive gambling credits as gifts. How many times have you received a gift card to a specific store, restaurant, coffee shop, or the local cinema, when all you really wanted was cash that you could spend anywhere, in any way you want? A gift card to Amazon, Lowes, or The Brick limits your options. But if you’re gifted a Virtual Visa, you can use it anywhere, including your favorite online casinos.
No Risk of Identity Theft or Financial Fraud
Another benefit is that these cards do not carry any financial details or personal information. Since they’re not linked to you, there’s no risk of identity theft or fraud. And since they’re prepaid, even if you did lose the card, or its details were compromised, you can’t possibly lose more than the card’s current value. As a result, you can feel more confident trying out new online casinos that you might otherwise avoid.
As you may know, new gambling sites tend to offer the best promotions to entice new players. However, we rarely recommend new websites, due to the potential for rogue behavior. With a Virtual Visa gift card, you won’t have to wait for new sites to earn a positive reputation before making a deposit.
Most Notable Drawback – Not Cashout Eligible
The only real negative is that you can’t withdraw casino winnings to a Virtual Visa card. These cards are not reloadable. That means you will need to choose an alternate payment method if you win enough money to request a payout. However, you can deal with that later, if and when it happens, because let’s be honest, of all life’s little problems, that’s not a bad problem to have!
How To Purchase A Virtual Visa
You can buy a Virtual Visa card from a variety of gift sites, such as GiftCards.com. Once you sign up, you just need to choose the amount that you want to purchase. This can range from a minimum of $10, up to a maximum of $250, or pretty much any denomination in between.
If you want to deposit more than $250, it’s as easy as buying additional cards. However, you’ll have to make one deposit at a time with each card. You cannot combine two or more cards into a single deposit. The only problem this might present is the inability to claim big promotions, like a high roller bonus. For this purpose, you may be better off with a prepaid Flexepin Voucher or Flex eVoucher.
This brings us to…
Qualities of the Best Virtual Visa Canada Casinos
Almost every online casino in existence accepts Visa debit cards, and by extension, Virtual Visa prepaid cards. So, unlike so many alternative payment methods, it’s not about finding casinos that accept Virtual Visa deposits, but rather finding the best online casinos for your needs. That means looking for the right qualities and features. They should include:
Canadian Player Acceptance
First and foremost, the operator needs to accept players from your country. If you’re reading this, that most likely means Canada. At the moment, Canadian players are supported by approximately 23% of the overall iGaming market, or about 1,000 out of 4,300 online casinos, poker, bingo, sports, and lottery sites. While the percentage may seem low, there’s still a lot to choose from.
Regulatory Responsibility
It’s so hard to trust an operator that is not responsibly licensed and regulated. Of all the jurisdictions that offer iGaming regulation throughout the world, only a few are known for enforcing the strictest regulatory guidance. The highest standards mean the greatest level of player protection; a big plus in terms of safety, security and anti-fraud measure. The trade-off for that is KYC/AML verification, which means you’ll need to verify your identity, and possibly source of funds, as well.
ID verification is not a bad thing. It has no adverse effects. Any website under these high-standard regulations has the best security technologies in place to protect your data. However, if you’re the type of gambler who likes to keep your expenditures under wraps, you may prefer a bit less in the way of hands-on regulation. If that’s the case, mid-standard regulators may be more your style.
High-Standard Regulatory Bodies – The Industry’s Best
These are the regulatory bodies whose licensees you can trust by default. If a licensed operator fails to comply with regulations, their license may be suspended or revoked. Just having this kind of license emanates trust.
- United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC)
- Gibraltar Licensing Authority (GLA)
- Canada’s Provincial Regulators (AGLC/iGo, ALC, BCLC, Loto-Quebec, MLGCA, OLG)
Standard Regulatory Bodies – Do Your Homework
These are licensing bodies that don’t enforce a lot in the way of regulation or compliance. They collect a fee, supply a license, and might implement a few basic moral codes at best. We must judge the licensees of these jurisdictions by longevity and reputation. Without an extensive track record for customer satisfaction, we do not recommend you trust them.
- Belize Gaming Control Board (BGCB)
- Costa Rica (no gaming division, just a “data processing” license)
- Curacao Gaming Control Board (CGCB; eGaming Curacao)
- Panama Gaming Control Board (PGCB)
What’s Better, Domestic or International Casinos?
It’s really a matter of preference, but there’s a lot to consider. Canada’s provincially regulated gambling websites aren’t a bad option. They are home-grown and 100% trustworthy. They offer valuable promotions for new players. Game variety has gotten a lot better over the last few years, too. And with local-to-local banking, your deposits and withdrawals are ultra fast.
On the other side of that spectrum, international casinos have a lot to offer. For one thing, not all Canadians have a provincially regulated gambling site at their disposal. Thus, they have no domestic option. But international preference goes well beyond necessity.
Operating in a more competitive landscape, some offshore casinos have extraordinary promotions that Canada’s gambling operators simply can’t match. Their game variety often climbs into the thousands, and the payout percentages on games like blackjack, slots and video poker tend to be far higher. Plus, there’s the potential to gamble with innominate discretion, beyond the watchful eye of the government. Anonymity and higher RTPs are, in fact, the top two reasons Canadians choose not to gamble online locally.
Our Pick For The Best Virtual Visa Accepted Brand – 888 Casino
We chose 888 Casino in part due to its comprehensive game offerings and exceptional user experience. The brand has robust support for Visa transactions, ensuring that deposits and withdrawals are swift.
Implementation is great too. 888 Casino leverages the Visa network elegantly via its integrated all-in-one payment cashier. It also accept many different varieties of Visa gift cards, and also cards from competing brands like Mastercard.
Another significant advantage of 888 Casino is its excellent user experience as it relates to deposits. The banking dashboard is comprehensive and supports both Interac Online and e-Transfer, offering excellent flexibility in payment options. The casino’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in its low wagering requirements and the absence of limits on Interac e-Transfer withdrawals.
Other Visa Casinos Worthy of Mention
There are many other casinos that operate in Canada and accept Virtual Visas. One of the casinos that has been working very hard to take 888’s business lately is BetWay Casino. BetWay is a huge gambling brand, which means it has a colossal marketing budget behind it. This, along with a world-renowned reputation, has allowed it to slip seamlessly into the Canadian market as one of the most popular casinos in the True North.
In the same token, many players find BetWay Casino to be lacking in a few areas. That’s because it’s not just a casino, but first and foremost, an online sportsbook. That’s fine for players who enjoy both verticals, but when the casino isn’t the central part of the business, it shows.
Jackpot City is another Canadian Virtual Visa casino that is worth considering. JackpotCity boasts 20+ years in the industry and high-standard regulation. Its partnership with Visa allows for enhanced fraud protection and secure payment processing.
If the aforementioned Virtual Visa Canada casinos aren’t quite to taste, then maybe one of these will be:
- Casino Room
- Party Casino
- Spin Palace
- Casumo Casino
Canadians are welcome to use Virtual Visa to deposit on each of these highly reputable, fully regulated casinos. If you’re unsure which casino to choose, take a few of them for a test run first. Remember, what sets online casinos apart from the terrestrial gambling industry is that you can play anywhere, anytime, free of charge. Depositing and playing for real money is 100% optional.
Little Known Visa Fun Facts
To cap things off, we offer some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about Visa. For starters…
1. Visa Began as an Experiment
It’s true! The original Visa card was issued by Bank of America in 1958; the same year American Express was introduced. It was an experimental service offered only to Bank of America customers residing in Fresno, California. BoA was working hard to develop a universal credit card brand that would distinguish itself from merchant-specific cards. It launched as BankAmericard, with 60,000 cards issued.
2. 18 Years Later, Visa was Born
The card’s success quickly boomed, and was soon spread overseas. In 1970, BoA gave control of card issuance to more banks, and in 1974, was expanded internationally. This led to BankAmericard taking on a wide variety of other names (without U.S. implications). Six years later, in an effort to increase singular marketability and heighten global brand recognition, the name was changed to Visa. The company described it as, “a simple name that sounds the same in every language.”
But enough about then… What about now?
3. Visa Achieves Carbon-Neutrality
Determined to help make the world a better, more sustainable place, Visa achieved 100% carbon-neutrality in 2020. That means the company, which serves over 3 billion people and more than 60,000 businesses worldwide, put for enough effort in environmental preservation, that it managed to erase its carbon footprint for the entire year. It’s not a one-time achievement, but a goal the company is making a commitment to maintain going forward.
4. Operating on 100% Renewable Energy
As part of its commitment to the planet, Visa finalized its transition to 100% renewable energy in January 2020. The company utilizes 100% renewable energy sources across all of it’s global operations, including including 131 offices in 76 countries, and four global processing centers. In doing so, Visa has seen a 90% reduction in its greenhouse emissions compared to 2014.
5. Inspirational Awards (Eco, Equality, & Ethics)
Visa has some very inspiring awards adorning its trophy case. One of the most notable is its inclusion on Ethisphere’s 2021 list of World’s Most Ethical Companies. Here are a few other notable mentions:
- 2021-2022 BEST Award – Association for Talent Development
- 2020-2022 Bloomberg Award – Gender Equality Index
- 2017-2019 Diversity Best Practices Award – Diversity Inclusion Index
- 2015-2021 Human Rights Campaign Award – Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality
- 2021 CDP Climate Award – Climate A List Company
- 2022 Fortune Magazine Honoree – List of World’s Most Admired Companies
Does Visa allow online gambling?
Visa has no problem with its cardholders making online gambling payments. The card company is not the only entity whose terms you have to worry about. It’s the bank that issues the card that may reject your iGaming deposits.
Only two of Canada’s Big Five banks allow online gambling, BMO and CIBC. Others like RBC, Scotiabank, and TD aren’t so accepting, and will reject any international Visa credit/debit card payment that gets flagged for ‘gambling purposes’.
To avoid this, you can purchase a Virtual Visa, Vanilla Visa, or any other Visa-branded prepaid gift card. These cards are not associated with any bank. Just make sure the card is not restricted to domestic purchases only. It should state on the card that it is eligible for international use.
How do I get a virtual prepaid card from Visa ?
Virtual Visa is not available for purchase online in Canada. They can only be bought in person. We recommend your local Canada Post | Poste Canada.
The easiest way to purchase a Virtual Visa in Canada is to visit your local post office (Canada Post | Poste Canada). Very few retailers, if any, offer these cards in-store anymore. Scotiabank used to sell them to customers, but they’ve since been discontinued.
Unfortunately, Visa does not permit the sale of its virtual prepaid cards over the internet in Canada. Other countries, sure, but not this one. It is possible to buy a Visa gift card through a US website, but you will be confined to using it at US merchants.
How do I use a Visa gift card to gamble online ?
Just like a debit card, you will need to enter the amount to deposit, card number, expiration date, and CVV code, then submit the payment.
Gift cards are as easy to use as any bank-issued credit or debit card. You will need the 16-digit card or voucher number, along with the expiration date and CVV security code from the back. Enter these details when prompted. Input the amount to deposit (not to exceed the value of the card), and tap the button to submit the payment. Your account should be credited within a few seconds.
What prepaid cards can I use for online casinos ?
Widely accepted prepaid cards for online casinos include:
- Flexepin
- Neosurf
- Paysafecard
- Visa/MC Gift Card
- Vanilla Visa
- Virtual Visa
Many of today’s online casinos promote prepaid gift cards as a viable payment method. If you’re in Canada, there are only so many options you have access to.
Flexepin is a Canadian-exclusive prepaid voucher that can be bought at many retailers across the country and online through reputable websites like TopMeUp.ca.
Neosurf and Paysafecard are also great options. Both have been around for at least two decades, building upon their reputation as trusted prepaid cards for online purchases. Both Neosurf and Paysafecard can be purchased in-store or online.
Visa and MasterCard gift cards are available at thousands of retail locations across Canada. Best of all, 99% of the online gambling industry accepts one or both of these methods. If you intend to deposit with international online casinos, make sure the card is eligible for international use.
Visa also makes a series of prepaid cards, including Vanilla Visa and Virtual Visa. These are available for purchase in-store only. Vanilla Visa is found in most stores, while Virtual Visa can be bought at your local Canada Post.
Who accepts virtual visa in Canada for iGaming ?
The iGaming industry is vast. There are over 3,000 online casinos that accept Visa payments, and nearly 1,000 of those also accept Canadian players. Because Virtual Visa cards and vouchers are just like prepaid gift cards and debit cards, you can use them anywhere you see the Visa logo on display.
Here’s a short list of recommended Virtual Visa casinos that welcome Canadian players. I’ve noted whether each operator is available to the general population, or is exclusive to Ontario’s iGaming market.
- 888 Casino [Canada + Ontario]
- Jackpot City [Canada + Ontario]
Spin Palace [Canada + Ontario]
- Casumo Casino [Canada + Ontario]
