Many casino advice pages skim over the actual deposit process.  It’s probably not an intentional slight so much as an oversight because the process has become so common and because depositing funds in an online player’s account has become so incredibly simple.  To make a deposit at any casino, you will first need to sign up for a player’s account.  This is a quick and easy process that usually requires little more than your name, age, address, contact information, and e-mail.  Many casinos will send you a deposit link once your new account is verified, but if they don’t the next step is to find the cashier page of the casino. 

You will first need to log in to your new account.  The cashier is usually accessible from every page of the casino including the lobby and tables.  Once on the cashier page, you will select the appropriate cue for making a deposit (some sites will have a “make a deposit” link while others may say “purchase chips”).  This brings up a menu from which you are asked to select your deposit method.  This will open an additional menu that will prompt you to enter the necessary information for that method (like a routing number for your bank account or a security verification number for your credit card).  You will then enter the amount you would like to deposit then click “Submit.” 

Some deposit methods allow for an instantaneous transfer of funds while others (like mailed money orders) could take weeks.  While the traditional deposit methods are: check, credit card, money order, and wire transfer many new electronic funds transfer services have cropped up in the last several years.  Some of the more popular of these include: NetTeller, Moneybookers, FirePay, Citadel, and eWallet.  Up to a dozen other secure funds transfer services exist.  Of course “secure” is the key word.  Generally if you can trust the casino you can trust the transfer services they recommend, but when in doubt go ahead and check out the service’s website and credentials.

While the traditional deposit methods remain popular, the electronic funds accounts like NetTeller and FirePay are quickly gaining in popularity.  For one, they are often more secure than the traditional payments as they do not give open access to a bank account or sensitive personal information.  They are also much faster (we’re talking seconds vs. days) than sending payment in the mail or even by wire transfer.  Another reason that these services have become staples in online gambling is because they are the only way that many U.S. players can create money accounts at international casinos.

Making your first deposit may be intimidating, if only because you’ve never done it before, but once you’ve completed your first deposit successfully you’ll see just how easy it is and can start experimenting with other funds transfer methods.