Visa Background Information

The history of Visa cards dates back to September 1958 when the Bank of America (BOFA) began a credit card programme called BankAmeriCard. The aim was to launch the world’s first all-purpose card that would replace the existent revolving credit system, which was inefficient, as it required customers to have a different card for each type of bill. An initial 60,000 cards were sent to customers and they were an instant hit.

It was not the first time that the scheme had been tried, but in the past, it had always been done by smaller banks that did not have the resources needed to promote the new types of cards and operate them properly.

At first, the cards were only available in the state of California. However, in 1965, BOFA began to make agreements with banks outside of the state. In fact, it wasn’t until federal restrictions were lifted in 1994 that BOFA were allowed to expand directly into other states.

Furthermore, it was not smooth sailing along the way. In 1970, the BOFA credit card was banned in America as it had caused financial chaos by distributing too many cards. At that point, the various BOFA credit card issuers took over the programme and created the National BankAmeriCard Inc (NBI), an independent organisation that was in charge of managing and developing the BankAmeriCard system inside the US. At the same time, the Bank of America continued to create and support international licenses for the cards, and by 1972, they had licenses in 15 countries. This led to the creation of IBANCO in 1974, to manage the international programme.

A few years later, in 1976, the managers at IBANCO consolidated the international networks into one, in order to have better control. The international networks became known as Visa International, and the national card under the NBI Corporation became known as Visa. Dee Hock, the company’s founder, picked the name as he felt it would be easy to remember and recognise.

Ever since then, the BOFA credit card has been known as Visa and people in more than 200 countries now use it. Today there are four types of visa cards. The debit and credit cards are the most popular; however, there are also Visa prepaid cards, which are essentially refillable debit cards, as well as Visa Gift Cards, which are prepaid cards that cannot be refilled.

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Advantages of Using Visa

There are many advantages to using Visa cards at online casinos, which is why it has become such a popular payment method. To begin with, the cards are incredibly secure. Many issuing banks now make use of some form of two-factor authentication, either in the form of a phone app that confirms transactions or through the use of codes that are sent out by email or SMS to the person making the transaction. Furthermore, if fraudulent transactions do occur, it is normally possible to receive a full refund.

Another major advantage of Visa is the speed of transaction. Transactions are nearly always processed instantly, so players at casinos will not be left waiting for funds to arrive before they can start playing. While it is true that withdrawals are a bit slower, normally they do not take longer than a few days, which for most people is a completely acceptable timeframe.

Furthermore, there are no fees for using Visa. Casinos will not charge a fee for making deposits or withdrawals using a Visa card. In the case of credit cards, the issuing bank may charge some fees, but it is very unusual and this normally only happens if people fail to pay their credit card bills on time.

Another advantage is that many issuing banks run reward schemes. This means that players may also receive benefits from their banks just by using their cards regularly. The rewards come in many different forms and it is always worth checking to see what a bank has on offer.

Of course, players should be aware of some drawbacks. To begin with, some players may not feel comfortable sharing their card information with an online casino. When playing at a properly regulated and licensed casino this should not be an issue, but it will be a concern to some. Furthermore, Visa cards do not allow players anonymity, which will be important to some. Finally, there are some jurisdictions, such as the UK, where making gambling payments with credit cards is not allowed, so it will not always be available to players.

How to Use Visa Cards at an Online Casino

Visa has been designed to be as easy to use as possible and the vast majority of people will not need any help in learning how to make deposits or withdrawals using their cards. The exact steps will vary slightly depending on the casino you are playing at, but the general principles will remain the same.

Assuming you already have a Visa card (if not, you may be able to request one from your bank), you then just need to head to the cashier at your chosen casino. Nearly all online casinos accept Visas and it is more than likely that the one you are playing at does. In the cashier, you should choose Visa as your preferred payment method. You will then be asked to enter the amount you wish to deposit. Next, you need to enter your card details (usually, the card number, the expiry date and the CCV number). If you have two-factor authentication set up, then you will have to confirm the transaction. The funds should then be available in your account within seconds.

Withdrawing your winnings is a very similar procedure. However, remember that at many casinos you will have had to confirm your identity before it is possible to make withdrawals, and you will also have had to fulfil any bonus terms and conditions. If you have made a deposit using a Visa card, then it will probably already be selected as your default withdrawal method in the casino cashier. All you have to do is enter how much money you wish to withdraw, ensuring that it is at least the casino minimum. You may be asked for a few more details and after providing them, the withdrawal should start being processed. The processing time will vary from casino to casino, but it is usually around 48 hours, after which the withdrawal will begin, and it will normally take up to five business days for the funds to arrive.

Help with Visa

If you have any problems using your Visa card then the best thing to do is to approach the issuing bank for help. The vast majority of banks have 24/7 call centres for help with cards and you may also be able to get help through online chat. If you believe that the problem is with the casino, then you can also approach the casino customer support and they are sure to do all that they can. 

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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Visa card?

Vis cards are only available through banks. This means that you first need to have a bank account. At most banks, you will be able to get a Visa debit card immediately. The process of getting a credit card will vary slightly from bank to bank. Some banks may offer MasterCard or another form of card instead of Visa, but either way, you will still need to obtain the card through your bank.

Are Visa cards free to use?

Yes. At the vast majority of online casinos, there are no fees for depositing or withdrawing using Visa debit or credit cards. There are fees for using the Visa network, but these are covered by the banks. You may have to pay an annual fee for having a Visa card and you should contact your bank for more information about this. If you have a Visa prepaid or gift card then there may be some fees, but they are usually absorbed in the purchase price.

Is it safe to use a Visa card at online casinos?

As long as you are playing at a casino that is licensed and regulated by a respected authority, then using a Visa card is very secure. There are many different security protocols in place, such as encryption, two-factor authentication, and firewalls, to protect your personal details, your financial details, and your money, at all times.

Does Visa block online gambling transactions?

If you are playing in a country where online gambling is legal, then Visa will not have any problems processing your transactions. However, if you are trying to play from a country where it is not legal, then you may find that your bank blocks gambling related transactions.

Why do I not see the casino name in my Visa charges?

Most casinos bill Visa cards from their parent company. This means that you will see the parent company’s name rather than the casino’s name. It is not hard to find out the name of a casino parent company, it is usually listed at the bottom of the casino websites, and the casino will likely inform you of this when you make a deposit.

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