When it comes to payment methods that online casinos in the UK typically accept, one stands head and shoulders above all others – Visa, or rather Visa credit and debit cards. There’s barely an online casino that does not accept Visa as payment method, and it deserves its place as the number one payment method globally aside from cold, hard cash.
Introduction
Visa can trace its roots back to 1958, when the Bank of America issued a ‘BankAmericard’ to its customers in California. This was one of America’s first credit cards, and largely introduced the world to the concept of a ‘buy now, pay later’ little plastic card. The BankAmericard was one of the first credit cards that could be used at multiple outlets. It was not a success, however, and it’s estimated that the launch of the BankAmericard cost Bank of America $20 million, which was a staggering amount of money in the late 1950s.
Bank of America persevered, however, and their new credit card concept began to make them stacks of cash. Several other banking institutions across the world joined forces with Bank of America in an attempt to make the BankAmericard a world-wide success. These banks included Barclay’s Bank in the UK (the card was called ‘Barclaycard’) and banks in France (where the card was called ‘Carte Bleue’).
In 1976 Bank of America decided to change the name of its card to ‘Visa‘ and hoped other banks would do the same to help them establish a true global presence. By the 2010s most Visa-issued cards contained the Visa logo, even if they were ‘officially’ known as something else.
These days Visa credit and debit cards are accepted at around thirty million outlets globally.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Accepted by the vast majority of online casinos
- Debit cards are tied directly to your bank account for hassle-free payments
- Your payments are protected in the event of fraud
- Plenty of support should you need it
Cons
- You have to enter your credit/debit card details online
Security
Security is an issue for some people when it comes to the use of a Visa debit or credit card online, but it need not be, as long as you play at a legitimate, licensed online casino. All information is secured when you send it to an online casino, and is encrypted by 128-bit encryption, which is impossible to decipher. Your details cannot be accessed or understood by hackers.
Deposit and time
You can deposit easily using your Visa debit or credit card, and most deposits are processed instantly. You can also easily store your card details for making further deposits. Withdrawals are usually processed within one to five days, once a withdrawal request has been processed by the casino you are withdrawing from.
Usability
Using your Visa card at an online casino could hardly be simpler. When it comes to making a deposit, just enter your card details, expiry date and CSC/CVV number (the number on the back of the card). Your payment has to be ratified by Visa for it to be processed, which adds to your peace of mind when making a payment.
Conclusion
When it comes to safety, security and ease-of-use, you can hardly go wrong with a Visa credit or debit card. Nearly all online casinos accept Visa, and your payments are backed by one of the largest financial institutions in the world. For convenience and confidence, you can hardly go wrong with Visa!
