June 2013 US Online Poker Payment Processing Report

June 2013 US Online Poker Payment Processing Report
6-14-2013 
http://diguk.com/rakeback

While Revolution Gaming continues to struggle, the major US facing brands that have adapted to the current US payment processing environment continue to thrive. There are no perfect US facing online poker rooms, but players that are most concerned about getting paid continue to find quality online poker rooms that keep them satisfied. One site received a failing grade this month. This is the first F since Everleaf Gaming ignored its responsibilities to US players in early 2012. Last month's grades are in parenthesis. 

May 2013 Report

Bodog/Bovada A (A)
Bovada, the US facing brand of the Bodog Network, once again takes our top honors. Bovada offers players a check by courier for up to $3,000 each month in 1-2 weeks. Some players even receive checks in just five days. The first check each month is free, while additional check requests incur a fee of $50. 

Players may also request a bank wire for up to $5,000 for a $50 fee. The first wire each month is free of charge if a player has not also requested a check during the same month. Players must also pay their bank a fee for receiving a wire that is typically about $25, while intermediary banks may also charge a fee to handle the transaction. Bank wires arrive in about one month.

Bovada introduced Visa card credits in the past week. There is a fee of $50, but the option is too new for there to be information on the speed of these transactions. This is different from a debit card option offered by other networks. This withdrawal method requires a player to possess a Visa card and use this card as a deposit method.

Bovada also offers two cash transfer options. These transactions are processed in 1-3 days. Both Western Union (WU) and MoneyGram (MG) are offered by Bovada. The fees are as follows:

Money Transfer/WU
• $100 - $200 Fee: $40
• $201 - $500 Fee: $50
• $501 - $1000 Fee: $80
• $1001 - $2000 Fee: $150

Rapid Transfer/MG
• $100 - $200 Fee: $20
• $201 - $400 Fee: $30
• $401 - $600 Fee: $45
• $601 - $800 Fee: $60

Winning Poker Network A- (A-)

While the Winning Poker Network is not in first place, it has received the most consistent A grade in our survey in the two years since Black Friday. The Winning Poker Network's cashier consists of Americas Cardroom, Black Chip Poker and True Poker. Players on the Winning Poker Network are playing under one of the strongest US facing online gambling companies in the world.

The most popular withdrawal method on Winning Poker is the debit card. Players may request this card for $25 and it arrives in 2-3 weeks. Each withdrawal incurs a $4.95 fee, with a $3 fee for each ATM transaction. There is also a monthly fee and an inactivity fee. Players can expect these transactions to be processed in 2-5 days once the card is in their possession. The maximum weekly withdrawal limit is $2,500 and the max each month is $10,000.

Players are also offered a check by courier that carries a fee of $65. These checks arrive in 1-2 weeks and the first check each month is free. The fastest, but most expensive way to cashout, is by Western Union. These cash transfers are processed in 1-4 days and carry the following fees based on the amount of the request:

• $100 - $299 Fee: $60
• $300 - $499 Fee: $70
• $500 - $749 Fee: $85
• $750 - $999 Fee: $95
• $1,000 - $1,500 Fee: $110

Intertops A- (A-)

Intertops is a Revolution Gaming skin that no longer accepts new US players. Intertops, which is the world’s oldest online sports book, continues to impress the industry with their quick US cashout speeds. The only problem with Intertops is the lack of a free monthly withdrawal.

Players may request a check for up to $3,000 or a bank wire for up to $2,500 for a fee of $50. Each option is processed in 1-3 weeks. Intertops will send a Western Union in 1-2 days. The amounts and fees are as follows:

• $150-$500 Fee: $70
• $501-$1,000 Fee: $85
• $1,001-$2,000 Fee: $180

Merge Gaming C (C-)

Cashout speeds are improving on the Jazette cashier. Players may request a check for up to $2,500. The check should arrive in 9-10 weeks. This speed is consistent and has one advantage. Players that request an additional cashout that does not bring the cumulative value above $2,500 will also see that cashout stacked onto the first one. There is no fee for a check withdrawal on the cashier shared by Carbon Poker, Aced, Sportsbook.com and PlayerOnly, unless a request is made in excess of $2,500 in a month. The fee on multiple monthly cashout requests is $40. 

Certain VIP players have been offered Western Union as an option. The fee and speed of these transactions are not yet available.

Lock Poker D (D-)

Reports from certain gaming portals have touted improvements in the Lock Poker payment processing system. These reports are technically correct, but they are still seriously lacking compared to competing US facing sites. The Revolution Gaming flagship is still plagued by cashout delays. US players are reporting 2-3 month delays in Western Union withdrawal requests. Checks are processed in 4-6 months. Neither is impressive, but most reports indicate there is a move in the right direction. Players outside the US are still reporting consistent 45 day cashouts. Lock Poker will be graded low at least until European players are getting paid on time. Slow payments to players outside of the US is typically a sign of liquidity issues.

Juicy Stakes F (D-)

This grade might be the hardest decision I have made in the two years of publishing this report. I have always stated that as long as a US facing online poker room was making an attempt to pay players that I would never go below a D-. Juicy Stakes is paying US players in 7-8 months. One player stated a check that was received in 7.5 months eventually bounced. Others are complaining about requests from 2012 that are still not paid. In my opinion, this is unacceptable. Many US facing online poker rooms offer Western Union cashouts in just days. Juicy Stakes will be graded an F until it finds an alternative to paying US players or significantly improves its check speeds. 

Everleaf Gaming was the last US friendly site to receive an F in this survey in April 2012. The network was eventually removed from this report when it became obvious it would not be paying US players.