Online casino players can choose from a great variety of banking methods to fund their accounts and clear their winnings. With new, modern online payment methods appearing regularly, players are spoilt for choice. Yet, if you live in those countries where online gambling has not been regulated or is considered an illegal activity, you may have a hard time finding a reliable method.
One of the oldest banking methods available globally may be a solution to your problem and is particularly popular among US online casino players. It is Western Union, a trusted payment method founded back in 1851. While it has been a popular method enabling users to make money transfers across borders, not many gambling sites support it.
In this guide to Western Union online casinos, we will provide you with all the details about the method itself and how to use it to top up your casino account. If you are a US casino player looking for an option to make online casino deposits, stay with us and find out more about Western Union and the advantages and disadvantages of using it.
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Unlike popular credit and debit cards or e-wallets, Western Union is not always present at online casinos. As a matter of fact, you will mainly find this method at the cashier of gambling sites catering to US players, such as Intertops and Vegas Crest, featured on our portal. Here is a complete list of online casinos approved by Casino Bloke where you can use Western Union for deposits.
This promotion is only valid on a player’s first deposit. The minimum deposit to receive a welcome bonus is $/€25. To receive the additional 100% Crypto bonus, players must fund using one of our Crypto funding options and request the additional bonus from live support. All welcome bonuses come with a wagering requirement of x48. The maximum bonus awarded is $/€1,500.
The minimum deposit amount to qualify for the 125% Bonus is USD 20. Currency in the Casino / Casino "chip transfer" is USD. The maximum bonus amount is USD 1,000. Wagering: 30x deposit + bonus. Terms and Conditions apply.
Company Name:
Western Union
Headquarters:
Denver, Colorado, USA
Established:
1851
82 / 100
Rates, Fees & Cost – Setup cost and transaction fees
6
Security – Level of safety and security measures
8
Availability – Number of serviced countries
9
Reputation – Overall feedback among players and consumers
9
Customer Support – Quality of assistance and speed of response
9
The first thing you will learn about Western Union is that it moves money across borders for families, businesses and communities. That’s exactly what the service provider based in Denver, Colorado, USA, claims to do. Users can make their transactions in more than 130 world currencies, from 500,000+ agent locations or from the official website or app. Western Union is available in more than 200 countries and territories.
On the provider’s official website, you will learn that they moved more than $300 billion in more than 800 million transactions around the world in 2018. But, you should know that Western Union has come a long way to become the payment method we know today. It all started back in 1851 when Western Union was a US company known for sending telegrams. This service was discontinued in 2006, and in 2020 Western Union’s website was among the 2,300 most visited websites according to Alexa Internet, which speaks volumes about the popularity of the services it offers.
Western Union is a modern company that continues to come up with innovative ways to send money through different channels, including digital, mobile, and retail. Their services include person-to-person money transfer and payments to businesses. Both may come in handy if you want to make a payment to an online casino in an unregulated market, such as the USA.
Once you have found a trustworthy online casino that supports Western Union, go to the cashier and choose it as a preferred banking option. However, you will need to get in touch with the customer support team to complete the transaction as you need further information and instructions as there are two options to choose from – money order and person-to-person deposit.
If you opt for money order, you will have to complete your payment at an agent location by providing the details you have received from the casino representative. To make a deposit in this way, you can use cash or your credit card; it’s up to you. Another option is person-to-person money transfer you can complete online through the official website. Anyhow, you will get a 10-digit Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) that you will have to send to customer support representatives to identify your payment. Keep in mind that money order takes more time than online transfers.
Unfortunately, not all Western Union online casinos will allow you to clear your winnings through this method. If you find an online casino that does, you will have to contact the customer support team to get an MTCN so that you can cash out your funds at any agent location.
Transactions via Western Union incur fees, and we have to say that they are on the more expensive side. Deposit fees can go all the way up to 15%, yet the exact fee you will have to pay depends on multiple factors, including the currency you opt for, amount and more.
When it comes to timeframes, Western Union is not the fastest option available. On the contrary, you will have to wait for your deposit to be processed and it may take up to 6 hours. As for withdrawals, when possible, they may take up to 5 days or sometimes even longer.
On the Western Union official website, you will find a FAQ page containing answers to the most common queries regarding sending money online, receiving money, consumer protection and more. If you cannot find an answer to your question, feel free to contact the customer care team via email or phone number. The great thing about the website is that it uses your IP to provide you with local support, meaning that you can get answers without extra expenses in your local language. Also, you will be informed about the opening hours of the local office.
Western Union is a safe option available to players from countries where the online gambling market has not been regulated yet. It allows you to make payments using cash, so you don’t need a bank account or card to fund your casino account. The best part about it is that you don’t have to reveal your sensitive information to the online gaming operator.
However, it comes with many disadvantages, starting with the need to get in touch with casino customer support to complete your transactions, high fees and long timeframes. Also, in most cases, you won’t be able to move your money both ways, meaning that you will need another banking method to carry out withdrawals.
Western Union is accepted by a small number of online casinos mainly operating in unregulated markets.
Transactions via Western Unions are safe as you don’t have to reveal your sensitive data to the casino to complete them.
If you are looking for a Western Union alternative to make cheap international money transfers, you should check out MoneyGram, which is a similar type of service. US players who cannot use popular credit cards and e-wallets may consider using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for faster deposits and withdrawals without costly fees.
There are no limits to how much money you can send through Western Union, yet maximum deposit limits may be imposed by casino operators. Check them before you make payment.
Western Union deposits may take up to 20 hours while cashouts through the same method may take up to 5 or 6 business days.
Unfortunately, yes, and they are on the expensive side going up to 15% depending on the currency you use and the country of your residence.