How Cash Advances Aid in Finance Management at Online Casinos

A cash advance at a casino is essentially a financial transaction that typically enables players like me to withdraw money from your credit card at the checkout/cashier or from an in-house ATM at a land-based venue. 

Cash advances like this are also possible on hundreds of legally permitted iGaming sites. 

Hopefully, I can impart everything you need to know about how cash advances can aid in finance management on today’s most trusted websites and whether they are worth it or not.

Do websites that offer real money gambling services allow credit card cash advances? 

Yes and no. Although cash advances are more commonly associated with bricks and mortar venues, I’ve also discovered that it’s still possible to get them when playing online, but only when using the credit card payment method in certain jurisdictions - I always read the terms and conditions just in case there is a ‘catch’.

For example, none of the legally permitted websites in the United Kingdom that are fully licensed and regulated by the UKGC (Gambling Commission) allow credit card deposits or withdrawals. 

In April 2020, new legislation was introduced that banned the use of credit cards where real money gambling services are offered (applies both online and offline), meaning players can’t even use credit cards at land-based sports betting shops to place sports bets.

It’s also not possible to pay for lottery tickets using credit cards at land-based stores across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 

Credit cards allow you to pay for goods and services online or offline or withdraw money from ATMs, but it’s all on credit, and any credit that you borrow must be repaid by a specific date. 

For millions of people worldwide, credit cards are still a flexible and legal way of borrowing a pre-arranged amount of money.

Also, although credit cards and cash advances can aid people who play fruit machines, keno, video poker, and the classics, like blackjack, craps, poker, roulette, and baccarat, by giving them a much-needed cash injection, the problem is that high fees are often attached to cash advances like this, which is why, personally, I tend to avoid getting them. 

Also, I’ve found that not all credit/debit cards work with cash advances unless you have already pre-arranged this service. You will also find that some credit card issuers will go as far as blocking transactions at casinos, especially those that operate online in the digital realm – normally those licensed by the UKGC. 

The law was introduced in the UK to protect vulnerable/at-risk players and prevent them from using money they haven’t got so that they can continue gambling. 

Where can I learn more about cash advances and which legally permitted websites offering blackjack, craps, fruit machines, and other classic favourites still accept credit cards?

If you are looking for a legally permitted website that still accepts credit cards for deposits and cash advances, the safest iGaming platform page I have found is at casinomeister.com/blog/cash-advance-at-casino/. 

If you live in Canada, mainland Europe, the United States, and many other parts of the world where online gambling on websites like this is legally permitted, there are plenty of trusted sites to choose from. 

Most of these iGaming sites featured on this world-famous website are fully licensed and regulated by various mid to top-tier licensing authorities, and they all allow people who join these sites to deposit and withdraw using credit and debit cards, such as the following trusted brands:

• Visa

• Mastercard

• American Express (Amex)

• Discover

• JCB

• Diners Club [International] Credit

I’ve also found countless non-UK-licensed websites that accept many other trusted credit card brands, such as Carte Bleue, Union Pay, Maestro Credit, Visa Electron Credit, and Eurocard, to name a few. 

To find out if the site you are about to join accepts your preferred credit card, head to its cashier/banking section. 

However, if you still can’t seem to find if your preferred credit card is accepted, the next best thing to do is contact the toll-free player support. They should be able to tell you straight away if your card is accepted on that site or not. 

How cash advances can aid in financial management, and whether you should use them

If you have just run out of physical cash at a land-based venue, or your regular bank account debit card is low on funds, cash advances and credit cards can come in handy. They enable you to play your favourite titles even when you have no money left in your bank account, for example. 

However, I would strongly advise against using a credit card to top up your online account, and I would also strongly advise against using them when you next find yourself visiting a land-based venue to play your favourite blackjack, roulette, video poker classics, or fruit machines. 

The money you ‘borrow’ on a credit card to play still has to be paid back, and there’s no guarantee that you will win with that borrowed money. 

Also, any cash advances that you receive often come with interest and steep fees. Borrowing money in this way just to play your favourite games is, therefore, not a good investment. 

Final thoughts

Instead of using a credit card to play online, I would suggest using any of the other traditional or alternative payment methods currently accepted on your chosen site(s), which don’t allow you to get cash advances and get yourself in debt. 

Some of the safest, cheapest, most secure, reliable, and convenient online payment solutions that are commonly accepted on today’s most trustworthy sites are eWallets, mobile/digital wallets, prepaid cards, debit cards, and direct/instant bank transfers. 

You can also now find a growing number of licensed and regulated sites that accept one or more cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, DogeCoin, Tether, Litecoin, and Ripple (BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDT, LTC, and XRP), which also don’t provide cash advances/credit loans, and are a much better option for gambling online in 2024.