PokerStars offers instant deposit method

PokerStars, the largest online poker room still accepting U.S. players, recently unveiled its newest depositing option – Instant eChecks – to a limited number of American players.

Instant eChecks represents the first instant depositing option since NETeller stopped offering its popular INSTAcash service and pulled out of the U.S. market. PokerStars had used Instant eCheck depositing in the past, as early as January of 2007, but suspended the service after the arrests of NETeller co-founders Stephen Lawrence and John LeFebvre.

Currently, only a select number of preferred PokerStars customers are allowed to deposit this way, according to the Web site. But PokerStars hopes to offer this all U.S. customers in the future.

"Instant eChecks are now available to a limited number of players with plans to make eChecks available to all U.S. players in the near future," says a message that appears on the cashier section of the preferred customers.

The way it works

Using eChecks is similar to writing a paper check and sending it to PokerStars – only faster. , An eChecks deposit takes money from a player's bank account and puts it into their player account at PokerStars via an Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).

Players can currently use their checking or savings account. And you'll need the following information to make an eChecks deposit:

1.) Bank routing number
2.) Bank account number
3.) Social Security number
4.) Date of birth
5.) Phone number
6.) Charge amount

The eChecks terms and services states that PokerStars is not responsible for the amount of time that deposits take nor is the service subject to banking regulations. Therefore a player deposits this way at their own risk.

The first eCheck deposit is subject to an extensive verification process. But once the first deposit is cleared, and as long as there are no issues on a player's depositing record, the Web site states that players can expect instant depositing thereafter.

Minimums and maximums:

$25 minimum deposit
$600 maximum within 24 hours
$600 maximum within seven days
$2,000 maximum within 30 days

Withdrawals

The Web site states that in most cases, withdrawn money will be sent to the bank account used for depositing. But the terms and services state that this is not guaranteed and is subject to change at anytime.

Other withdrawal methods are available at PokerStars including ePassporte and paper. ePassporte services are very slow (can take up to three weeks), however, PokerStars sends paper checks relatively quickly. Casino City tests show PokerStars checks arrive well before the 21 days PokerStars estimates it will take to reach your home.