February 2018 US Offshore Online Poker Payment Processing Report
After a holiday break, Safest Poker Sites is back with its US Offshore Online Poker Payment Processing Report. This is after massive fluctuations in Bitcoin prices that made some online poker sites rethink its payment processing on the cryptocurrency. This included slower cashouts at some rooms and Intertops removing Bitcoin entirely for a time before returning it with a fee.
There was a slight slowdown in payout speeds after the Super Bowl. However, these were minor and online poker cashouts to US players have already returned to normal.
Previous grades are in parenthesis. Our last report may be found here.
BetOnline/Sportsbetting A+ (A+)
BetOnline and Sportsbetting continue its impressive trend of fast withdrawals. The two are US-facing poker sites on the Chico Poker Network. BetOnline and Sportsbetting process Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum in amounts up to $10,000 for free. These transactions are paid in about one day.
Checks are available in amounts from $500 to $2,500. The fee is $50 and arrives in about one week. Money orders are paid in amounts up to $9,000 with a fee of $80. These also arrive in about one week.
Bank wires are paid in amounts up to $24,900. The fee starts at $50 and depends on the amount. The banks handling the transaction may also charge a fee. These arrive in about two weeks.
BetOnline and Sportsbetting offer one free withdrawal per month. The maximum waived fee is $50. Withdrawals with a higher fee receive a $50 discount. The request must be made on a Friday.
Bovada/Ignition A+ (A+)
Bovada and Ignition Poker are members of the PaiWangLuo Network. It is the largest US-facing poker site. Bitcoin withdrawals are free and arrive in about one day. The maximum is $9,500. Players may also request a check. These are processed in amounts up to $3,000 and carry a $100 fee. These arrive in one to two weeks. Players may receive one free check every 90 days.
Winning Poker Network A (A)
Winning Poker Network’s cashier processes payments for Americas Cardroom, Black Chip Poker, and True Poker. Bitcoin payments are available in amounts up to $10,000. These are free and arrive in one or two days.
Litecoin and Ethereum are paid in amounts up to $2,500. These are also processed in one or two days with no fees
Checks are processed in amounts up to $2,995. The fee is $65 but this is waived once every 30 days. Checks arrive in about one week.
Intertops A- (A+)
Intertops is the flagship of the Horizon Poker Network. It offers three withdrawal options.
Bitcoin is available in amounts up to $2,500. The fee is $20. This is new as Intertops did not charge anything for Bitcoin withdrawals until the markets became volatile. This is why its grade came down in the past month. Intertops Bitcoin withdrawals are paid in one or two days.
Checks are processed in amounts up to $3,000. The fee is $50 and arrives in about one week.
Intertops bank wires are available in amounts up to $2,500. The fee is $50 in addition to what the intermediary and receiving banks charge. These arrive in about two weeks.
SWC Poker B+ (B)
SWC Poker is a small Bitcoin-only site. Bitcoin withdrawals are processed in any amount and arrive in 12 hours or less. There are no fees involved with SWC Poker withdrawals.
Juicy Stakes B (B)
Juicy Stakes is a member of the Horizon Poker Network. We recommend Intertops over Juicy Stakes because Intertops offers Bitcoin withdrawals and Juicy Stakes does not. The check limits are also higher at Intertops.
Checks are available in amounts up to $1,000. The fee is $50. These arrive in about one week. Players that rake $40 in a month receive one free check withdrawal.
Bank wires are paid in amounts up to $2,560. The fee is $60 in addition to what is charged by the intermediary and receiving banks. These arrive in about two weeks. Players that rake $60 in a month may receive one free bank wire withdrawal.
Merge Gaming D+ (D+)
Merge Gaming processes payments for Carbon Poker, PlayersOnly, and SuperBook. It has problems paying players. Bitcoin withdrawals take up to a week and carry a 5% fee. Checks have a 3% fee and take at least twice as long as any other poker site. Players only receive one free withdrawal per year, as opposed to monthly ones at most other sites.
It is clear that Merge Gaming does not like winners as it often bans and slow-pays them. For this reason, we suggest players choose any other poker site on this list.