US Poker Deposit Options

Western Union is a money transferring service. Their services works like this; you give them your money and they send it to whomever you want. Kind of like a bank wire, minus the bank. The person you send the money to then goes to their local Western Union to pick up the money you sent. Or, in the case of online poker, the money is put into your account.

What's great about WU is that they have branches all over the world. So not only are they an accepted banking method from US accepting poker sites, it's an option that Americans can actually use.

If you're looking for a Western Union poker site, look no further. Our top recommendations are below.

Western Union Poker Guide for US Players

We get a lot of questions about using Western Union for making deposits, especially for US players. We've answered those questions for you below.

How Do I Make a Transfer (Deposit) with Western Union?

The process to making a deposit with Western Union is a simple one, albeit it does have more steps to completion compared to other deposit methods.

What you need to do first is get the transfer details from the poker site you want to deposit to. This includes things like email, address, phone number, etc. Be sure to get this information correct, otherwise you can face delays on having your funds transferred.

The next step is to find your nearest Western Union. With locations all over the US (and world), it should be a quick Google search away. Go to the office, fill out the transfer paperwork, show them your ID and give them your money. Then pay them.

Then your money will be transferred. Assuming things go smoothly the money should hit your account quickly.

Now if you don't want to leave your house, you can also try Western Union's online service. This is available (for non-pickup) in certain countries only, so you'll want to check that out first.

Withdrawals are possible with Western Union too. Once you request a withdrawal and it's been approved, your money will be ready for pickup within 2 days. You'll just need to fill out some paperwork and show ID.

What are the Benefits to Using WU for US Players?

Hands down, the biggest benefit to Western Union is bypassing your bank. Trying to make deposits online with your debit/credit card presents the risk of having your account shut down. So you avoid that by using Western Union.

Your deposit is less likely to be declined, too, and Western Union is a pretty fast method for making a deposit online.

Is Western Union Safe for American Poker Players?

Yeah. Western Union is a large company. They make a lot of transactions every day. So I wouldn't worry about dealing with them.

If you experience any problems it'll be from sending your money to a sketchy poker site. So using Western Union in that case would be unsafe. But so would any other banking method. To avoid any problems I recommend sticking to our list of sites above.

Are There Any Fees for Using Western Union?

Yes. You should expect to pay around 10%, or between $25 and $75. Ultimately it depends on how much you transfer.

When you make a withdrawal though, most poker sites will offer to handle the fees. Keep in mind that there may be a certain deposit/withdrawal threshold you have to meet first.