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ACH Transactions at New Jersey Online Poker Sites Explored

April 12, 2014

A recent experiment conducted by an Online Poker Report journalist on ACH transactions at online poker sites regulated by the state of New Jersey produced results that are both edifying and positive. If you have never made a deposit at a New Jersey online poker site but would like to, or if you have tried without success, you will find this analysis helpful. But what ultimately is demonstrated by the “test” is that state-regulations of online poker are working and effective, much more so than the unfettered, unsupervised sea of unregulated, offshore online poker sites.

The first-person look at deposit and withdrawal transactions at each of the six New Jersey online poker sites sheds light on the most widely accepted method for online poker funding, the ACH option. The Automated Clearing House transaction is a cash transfer from point A (the player’s bank account) directly to point B (the player’s online poker account).

Deposits prove to be instant with no hiccups and little “pending” time, if any at all, with no fees at any of the sites. Isn’t money coming out of the bank always seemingly flawless and immediate in most realms? New Jersey online poker is no exception. It’s when we request money be paid into our accounts that it seems to have an extended commute. The true test is on New Jersey online poker withdrawals.

The withdrawal process for both WSOP.com and 888 requires additional documentation of identification (e.g. copy of recent bank statement); Betfair requires no additional identification than was already on file, though they use Certegy, which charges a 1% fee, refunded by Betfair upon completion of transaction. Note that to make a withdrawal via ACH on both Borgata and PartyPoker, you must have made a prior, successful deposit. This is not a requirement at the other four New Jersey online poker sites.

The Results:

Three days after the withdrawals are requested, three of the six state-regulated New Jersey online poker sites, 888, Betfair, and WSOP.com, show the transfers in the player’s bank account, though are still “pending,” but are cleared and available in the player’s bank account by the end of the third day.

However, after three days, there is no word from Borgata or PartyPoker, both of which share software, tournament schedule, and player base. Borgata and Party are viewed as separate sites, but the only true difference is their promotions. These two sites do advise that withdrawal times vary across different payment methods; however, both sites present pop ups during regular play offering the opportunity to reverse the withdrawal transaction in order to free up more funds to play with. According to the site, these transactions are still pending (and it’s not too late to change your mind). By the end of the third day, both sites have approved the withdrawal requests. On the fourth business day, both withdrawals hit the player’s bank account.

All five ACH payments show up in the player’s bank account with proper casino transaction names since online poker transactions are legal in New Jersey.

On the other hand, UltimatePoker.com offers cash outs via US mail only, or via pick up at Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal Casino. The site claims that an option for a electronic transfer withdrawal will be available sometime in the future. In the case study, it takes three hours from time of request for approval. It then takes seven days for the check to print. In five more days, the check travels from Las Vegas to New Jersey. The outcome was 12 days (eight business days and four weekend days) for the UltimatePoker.com withdrawal to get from point A to point B.

The Conclusion:

Five out of six New Jersey online poker sites cleared ACH electronic transfer withdrawals within four days. Only one took 12 days.

The final piece of advice from the author of the study is to open a new and separate checking account that you use for only for online poker transactions at the bank of your choice, so that you can control and track your pending transactions and keep up with how much your depositing and withdrawing.

Written by Maria · Filed Under Poker News 

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