Gift card casinos offer a tempting combo of speedy deposits, more privacy, and limited hoops to jump through. They’re perfect for skipping straight to the spins and hands with no banking account or oversharing personal details involved.
We’ve scouted and found the best gift card casinos in terms of options, limits, games, and bonuses. See our expert picks below, and keep reading for details on gift card types, bonuses, and troubleshooting.
Top Gift Card Casinos – Reviewed by Our Experts
After testing and reviewing dozens of gift card online casinos, we found several that really stand out. You can compare these top-tier platforms below on their gift card options and bonuses.
| Gift Card Casino | Gift Cards Accepted | Deposit Speed | Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| TheOnlineCasino | Visa, Mastercard, Amex | Instant | 500% up to $1,000 |
| Raging Bull | Visa, Mastercard, Amex | Instant | 350% up to $2,500 |
| BetOnline | Visa, Mastercard, Amex | Instant | 100 free spins |
| Red Dog | Visa, Mastercard | Instant | 225% up to $8,000 |
| Captain Jack | Visa, Mastercard, Amex | Instant | 350% up to $2,500 |
| Lucky Bonanza | Visa, Mastercard | Instant | 500% up to $5,000 |
How We Chose the Best Gift Card Casinos
Finding top online casinos that accept gift cards isn’t just about flashy bonuses and huge slots selections. It’s also about safety, consistency, and real value for you. Here are our key focuses when testing gift card sites:
- International licensing: Casinos that operate in respected licensing jurisdictions (e.g. Anjouan) have laws and regulations to follow. They’re more likely to be legit and treat you fairly as a result.
- Trusted game providers: Trust is key when putting your gift card funds on the line. That’s why we look for platforms that run games from well-known and established providers like Betsoft, BGaming, Dragon Gaming, and Rival.
- Competitive bonuses: Our experts look past casinos simply offering bonuses to gift card users. We also want high match percentages (e.g. 200%), low wagering requirements, and transparent fine print.
- Reasonable payout speeds: We don’t expect every gift card casino to offer same-day payments, but a 2–3 day approval window should be the norm. Swift KYC approval is also important because it helps you make that first withdrawal faster.
- VPN friendly: Some online casinos that accept gift cards have no problem with you using a VPN. This is a bonus because VPNs give you more privacy and an extra layer of encryption.
Best Gift Card Casino Overall: The Online Casino
The Online Casino accepts multiple types of gift cards, has wide gift card banking limits, and excels in multiple other areas.
In business since 1997, The Online Casino has had plenty of time to nail down the gift card game. It accepts payments through a variety of gift cards, including Mastercard, Visa, and Amex.
Deposit limits range from $20 to $2,000, which isn’t bad considering how some online casinos that take gift cards have a $1k max.
Besides featuring plenty of gift card variety, The Online Casino is well rounded with over 800 games, regular bonuses, and third-party game testing from GLI. It also makes fast payouts, with crypto withdrawals usually arriving in less than 24 hours.
The Online Casino currently features one of the best reload bonuses in the game. You can score a 200% up to $1,000 bonus when topping up your account. Wagering requirements are just 25x, beating the 30x–40x industry average.
How Gift Card Casinos Work
Gift card online casinos treat your balance like a prepaid card. Once the card has funds, you enter the details, choose an amount, and make a deposit—no bank account needed. Your deposits will also be instant, similar to payment methods at credit card and Cash App casinos.
These cards are nice workarounds if you value privacy and don’t want gambling transactions appearing on financial statements. But be aware that some gift card issuers block online casino deposits. This is more likely when your card is for US use only, versus international use.
An even bigger gotcha comes during cash-out time, when you find that winnings can’t be returned to gift cards. Luckily, the average gift card casino online offers multiple withdrawal options, such as bank transfer, crypto, and e-wallet.
Card Registration Requirements
Before you race to the slots and table games, here are a few points to consider before using gift cards at casinos:
- Generic gift cards MUST be registered with the same name/billing address matching your casino account.
- You register a gift card by visiting the issuer’s website, entering the card number and PIN, then adding your name and address.
- You can try depositing without registering, but this runs a higher risk of a declined transaction.
- Repeated declines may trigger a fraud check by the issuer.
- Many casinos only accept gift cards available for international use, not just a single country like the US.
- Check the card’s terms to see if it’s international or restricted to a single country or region.
Understanding Gift Card Online Casino Fees
The last thing you want to do is make a gift card casino deposit, only to get hit with fees you’re not ready for. After all, nobody likes losing before the reels start spinning. Let’s go over the different potential charges when using this deposit method.
Purchase and Activation Fees
You have to pay upfront purchase or activation fees before using a gift card at online casinos. The impact on your starting bankroll differs slightly by the card:
- Visa / Vanilla Visa: Activation fees that start at $2.95 for a $10–$74.99 card, reaching up to $6.95 for a $350–$500 card.
- Mastercard: Starting purchase fee of $2.95 for a $10–$74.99 card, going up to $6.95 for a $350–$500 card.
- Amex: Purchase fees beginning at $3.95–$5.95 for a $25–$50 card and up to $6.95–$7.95 for a $200–$500 card.
- Paysafecard (prepaid card): Purchase costs are generally $1.49 for a $10 card and $3.49 for a $50–$100 buy.
Gift Card Casino Deposit Fees
Just like with credit/debit card payments, some gift card casinos charge a fee for gift card deposits. These charges, which are normally for international processing or currency conversions, can range from 9.75% to 15.9%.
To avoid surprises, always check the cashier page before depositing with a gift card. Many gaming sites list these fees next to the payment method or on a banking info page.
Gift Card Maintenance and Inactivity Fees
The costs don’t always stop after the initial purchase or activation, especially if your card is dormant for a while. Here are additional fees to watch out for and hopefully avoid:
- Maintenance/inactivity fees: Many networks begin charging monthly maintenance fees if you haven’t deposited with the gift card within 12–24 months. For example, Visa usually charges $4.95 monthly after 12 months of inactivity.
- Replacement fee: All hope isn’t lost when you lose a gift card, but there’s a fee involved. For instance, Mastercard requires $5 for the replacement.
- Balance inquiry: Some gift card issuers charge you just for checking your balance, with fees commonly ranging from $0.25–$2.
How Fees Impact Your Gambling Funds at Gift Card Casinos
You can see that there are a variety of possible fees when using gift card casinos. Let’s put everything together with a simple example so you can see the potential impact on your bankroll:
Example: How Fees Affect Your Deposit Amount
You buy a $100 Vanilla Visa gift card with a $2.95 activation fee, leaving your card worth $97.05. You deposit at a casino with a 10% international processing fee, meaning your bankroll is reduced to $87.36.
A $12.64 bite out of your $100 card isn’t exactly ideal. The goal is to find a situation where you’re spending as little upfront to deposit as possible. This often involves locating a gaming site that doesn’t charge its own fees for gift cards.
How to Deposit at Gift Card Casinos
Depositing at an online casino with a gift card is quite fast—especially if you’re a seasoned player. Here’s how you get from checkout to real money play with no drama:
- Head to the cashier: Visit the deposit area and choose “gift card,” or select Visa/Mastercard if the casino processes gift cards like prepaid cards.
- Enter your card details: Type in the card number, expiry date, and CVV just like you’d do with a debit/credit card.
- Decide the amount: Enter how much you want to deposit, making sure the gift card has enough to cover it.
- Check the confirmation screen: This is where processing fees and exchange rates appear, allowing you to ensure the deposit isn’t too expensive before confirming.
- Approve and wait for funds: Most gift card deposits go through immediately, giving you instant funds to play with.
Non-activated gift cards are among the most common reasons for declined casino transactions. Assuming your deposit is rejected, check if you need to activate the card at the issuer’s website.
How to Withdraw At Online Casinos That Take Gift Cards
There’s nothing better than turning your gift card deposit into winnings, but there’s one catch…you can’t withdraw money back to your card.
You’ll need to pick an alternative when cashing out. From crypto to wire transfer casinos, here are your main options when making a withdrawal.
| Withdrawal Method | Transaction Speed | Fees | Privacy | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptocurrencies | Fast | Low | High | High |
| E-Wallets | Fast | Medium | Medium | High |
| Debit/Credit Card | Slow | High | Low | Medium |
| Bank Transfer | Slow | High | Low | High |
Best Gift Card Casino for Fast Withdrawals: BetOnline
Sometimes paying within hours, BetOnline delivers your winnings faster than any gift card casino we’ve played at.
BetOnline has long been one of the best online casinos, processing cashouts in under 24 hours. We’ve even had withdrawals processed in just a few hours here.
This casino features 17 cryptocurrencies that you can use to get your money. This selection includes speedsters like Solana and XRP, which send payments within seconds after withdrawal approval.
You can deposit at BetOnline using Amex, Mastercard, and Visa gift cards. Your first deposit gives you access to 100 free spins, 1,000+ real money casino games, and VIP rewards.
In addition to being the fastest withdrawal method at BetOnline, crypto is also the only option without fees. Considering that BetOnline’s fiat payment fees reach upwards of $80, we’re always cashing out with crypto here.
Accepted Gift Cards at Gift Card Casinos
Online casinos vary wildly on what gift cards they accept. Some are only Visa gift card casinos, while others take several options. Let’s look at the brands you’ll find throughout the gaming world.
Visa Gift Cards
Visa is the most widely available gift card at gaming sites. It features superb fraud protection and provides support for international transactions. You can often expect higher approval rates at a Visa gift card online casino versus most competitors too.
Vanilla Visa Gift Cards
Vanilla is a specific Visa gift card brand that works largely the same as the regular version. It offers similar benefits to Visa gift card online casinos, like international support and great fraud detection. But one catch is that Vanilla Visa isn’t accepted at as many casinos compared to the standard version.
Mastercard Gift Cards
If you find a Visa gift card online casino, you’re almost guaranteed to see Mastercard gift cards accepted there too. Mastercard casinos have reasonable fees, top-tier security, and smooth transactions. You can even earn rewards through certain premium Mastercard gift card brands.
AmEx Gift Cards
American Express is competitive with other top brands on fraud protection, brand trust, and fees. But it’s not available at as many online casinos that accept gift cards as Visa and Mastercard.
Other Options
Here are more gift card options available at US-friendly online casinos or elsewhere. We’ve also thrown in a popular prepaid card because it works much like gift cards:
- Discover: Although much less active on this scene than its competitors, Discover also offers gift cards that usually range from $25–$200. But you’re more likely to find the Discover prepaid at gaming sites versus its gift card.
- Paysafecard: This prepaid card lets you deposit instantly without a bank account just like gift cards. Paysafecard comes with the added bonus of letting you reload funds onto it, plus use up to 10 PIN numbers for bigger deposits.
- Game On: Partnered with Paysafecard, Game On is a gift card option for state-licensed online casinos in the US. That said, you can’t use it at our favorite USA-friendly offshore gaming sites.
International vs Domestic Card Restrictions
Many offshore gift card casinos only accept international-enabled gift cards for deposits. If your card is limited to domestic transactions (e.g. US only), then your payment will normally be declined.
This gets confusing when you notice that an online casino accepts Mastercard, for example, only to see your deposit rejected.
You can avoid this confusion by visiting the card issuer’s website and reading the terms. Check for phrases like “international usage” (good for our purposes) or “US transactions only” (bad) before trying to deposit.
Making the Most of Bonuses at Gift Card Casinos
Gift card payments at online casinos normally let you join in the bonus fun. But you should still read the fine print to avoid any payment-method quirks or restrictions that’ll rain on your promo parade. Let’s go over what gift card casino bonuses you can expect.
Welcome Bonuses
- What it is: Matches your first gift card deposit by a certain percentage (e.g. 100% up to $1,000) and may include a side of free spins.
- How to Maximize: Look for a higher match percentage (e.g. 200%) combined with reasonable wagering requirements like 30x–40x.
- Best Games: Slots, scratchcards, and keno because these games normally contribute 100% towards wagering requirements. Most other game types only contribute about 10%–50%, which hampers high-RTP options like blackjack and video poker.
Free Spins
- What it is: Complimentary spins on designated slots that may come with a reload offer or even be a standalone reload bonus.
- How to Maximize: Check for realistic wagering requirements (e.g. 40x or lower) and make sure your free spins don’t expire in three days.
- Best Games: Whatever game(s) you have to use the spins on, which are usually new or highly popular slots.
Reload Bonuses
- What it is: Bonus offers that match your gift card deposits after you’ve already used the welcome bonus.
- How to Maximize: Treat reload bonuses as bankroll boosters that enhance your fun, rather than excuses to keep depositing.
- Best Games: The terms are usually close to welcome bonuses, so, again, go with games that contribute 100% towards wagering requirements. Maybe slip in a table game or two if the contributions justify doing so (e.g. European roulette contributes 50%).
Cashback
- What it is: Returns a percentage of your losses (e.g. 10% up to $500) as bonus credits or real cash.
- How to Maximize: Look for cashback bonuses that give you real cash, versus bonus credits that come with wagering requirements.
- Best Games: Low-to-mid volatility slots and low-variance table games like blackjack and baccarat, where the cashback benefits you long term. After all, you’re unlikely to care about a few dollars returned if you lose everything on volatile table side bets or jackpot slots.
VIP Perks
- What it is: Tier-based rewards and bonuses that you accumulate over time through gift card casino online play.
- How to Maximize: Find a good casino and dedicate much of your gift card deposits there to steadily rack up more rewards.
- Best Games: VIP perks favor consistency over volatile gambles, so find high-RTP games like blackjack, European roulette, and slots with over 96% payback.
Best Gift Card Casino for Bonuses: Raging Bull
Raging Bull offers an unbeatable combo of incredibly low rollover on gift card bonuses, many promos, and regular no-deposit bonuses.
This casino starts on the right foot with a 250% match on your first gift card deposit up to $2,500. It only gets better considering the wagering requirements are just 10x—the lowest we’ve seen in a while.
After becoming a Raging Bull member, you can visit the “Coupons” section of your account to find plenty of other deals. We currently see multiple offers for free spins, reload offers, and no-rules bonuses.
You don’t even need to use your gift card to get bonuses in some cases. Raging Bull consistently provides no-deposit offers, which you can check for in your onsite mailbox.
Even if you’re not sure about playing at Raging Bull long term, the 250% welcome offer is still worth pursuing. The 10x wagering requirements give you a realistic shot at cashing out bonus winnings.
Games at Online Casinos that Accept Gift Cards
A gift card fast-tracks your way towards enjoying real-money casino games. Funds usually hit instantly, at which point you can jump straight into any of the following game types.
Slots
Slot games cover lots of ground since they include categories like classic, video, progressive, Megaways, and cluster pays. We love slots when we’re looking to make smaller, frequent gift card deposits. For example, you could deposit $20, bet anywhere from $0.20–$0.50, and enjoy a solid session—volatility permitting.
Table Games
Most online casinos that take gift cards offer a full table lineup, ranging from roulette and baccarat to blackjack and three-card poker. They’re great for combining strategy with low house edges to stretch your gift card balance further.
Live Dealer Games
Many gift card casinos feature live dealer games like blackjack, roulette, game shows, and even sports themes (e.g. T-Basket). We mainly play live games when we’re willing to drop more gift card funds due to minimum bets ranging from $5–$25.
Specialty Games
Table classics, slots, and live-streamed table games are always fun, but sometimes you just want something different. An online casino gift card deposit usually provides access to unique scratchcard, keno, and bingo variants. You’ll find the rapidly growing crash game genre at many of these casinos, too.
Best Gift Card Casino for Game Variety: Red Dog
Red Dog gives you many options with 1,600+ games and deep coverage of slots, table games, specialty titles, and live dealer tables.
You can enjoy one of the largest game selections that online gift card casinos have to offer at Red Dog. We count over 1,600 titles here, which breaks down into 1,300+ and 300+ across several other categories.
This casino uses various top US-friendly software providers, including Betsoft, Dice Lab, Dragon Gaming, Nucleus, and Saucify.
Red Dog divides up this large game library well, featuring sections for new games, jackpots, live tables, video poker, and more. We had no trouble finding what we wanted, whether it was crash games or live game shows.
The Red Dog selection never stays stagnant because new titles arrive all the time. We currently see over 60 games in the “new” category, with most being recently released slot games.
If you’re on the hunt for high-paying games, try Super 7 Blackjack at Red Dog. This Nucleus Gaming-powered blackjack variant offers 99.71% RTP.
Troubleshooting Gift Card Casino Deposits
My gift card deposit was declined even though it has enough funds on it
This often means that the issuer has a policy of blocking gambling-related transactions. Another problem may be that your card is for domestic use only, when most offshore casinos only take international-enabled cards. Reading your gift card’s terms is the best way to get to the root of these issues.
The casino won’t accept the transaction because my billing details don’t match
You often need to register your gift card on the issuer’s website before making a casino deposit. When doing so, make sure the billing address used matches the one on your casino account.
My card works at other online casinos that take gift cards, but not this one
One gaming site can differ from the next on what gift card brands it accepts. Some are only Visa and Mastercard, while others also take Amex and Vanilla Visa. Check a casino’s cashier before depositing to make sure your card applies.
The transaction failed and didn’t even give me an error message
Another potential problem that may stem from your card only allowing domestic transactions. Again, the average US-friendly offshore casino requires gift cards that can make cross-border payments.
I got an error for insufficient funds
Double-check your gift card balance to see if it has enough to cover the casino’s minimum deposit. Most gaming sites require a $20–$30 min. deposit.
Expert Tips for Using Gift Card Online Casinos
With the right know-how, a gift card is one of the best ways to fund your casino account. The following tips will help you make smoother deposits even if you’re already quite experienced around a casino cashier.
- Find an exit route first: Money can’t go back onto your gift card, so don’t strand yourself when it comes to withdrawal time. Be sure you have a reliable cash-out option before making that first deposit.
- Keep your balance lean: Many gift cards start penalizing you for 12 months of inactivity. There’s no reason to hoard gift card funds—use what’s on your card in a reasonable time frame.
- Watch for processing fees: Some casinos pass processing fees onto you, which can shave 10%–15% off your bankroll. Look for gaming sites where you won’t pay an extra dime when depositing with gift cards.
- Double check bonus qualification: Gift card transactions normally qualify for bonuses, but occasionally they don’t—especially at crypto-heavy sites. You’re better off checking bonus terms beforehand just to be clear.
- Activate before depositing: You can sometimes make gift card payments for online casinos without activating the card first, but why take that chance? Too many rejections can get you flagged by the casino or card issuer.
Are Gift Card Casinos The Best Option For You?
Online casinos that accept gift cards are a strong fit if you value instant deposits, privacy, and spending control. They’re especially worthwhile when you prefer prepaid budgeting and don’t want gambling transactions tied to your bank account. Bonus points if you like short slots sessions without lengthy wallet addresses or banking drama.
On the flip side, you might seek other methods when prioritizing lower fees, high-stakes play, or an all-in-one deposit/withdrawal option. Crypto, e-wallets, and even bank transfers satisfy some or all of these needs.
FAQs
Many casinos accept gift card payments, but the exact cards they take can vary. Mastercard and Visa gift card casinos are the standard that you’ll see throughout gaming. But some operators have an expanded selection that may include Amex and/or Vanilla Visa.
Yes, but you can’t withdraw back to the gift card that you deposited with. You’ll need to choose an alternative payment method like crypto, bank transfer, or e-wallet to cash out. Crypto and e-wallets are the fastest ways to get your money, while bank transfers are good for withdrawing large amounts.
Gift card deposits do usually qualify for online casino bonuses. One exception is when an operator offers promotions for specific payment methods. For example, crypto-focused casinos may only provide bonuses for crypto depositors. This is why we always recommend checking terms and conditions to make sure gift card transactions qualify for bonus offers.
One common reason why gift card casino deposits get rejected is because the card isn’t activated. You can fix this by visiting the card issuer’s site and filling in all necessary activation details. Another frequent problem is if a card is limited to domestic transactions—you need it enabled for international transactions when depositing at offshore casinos.
References:
- Gaming Control Anjouan (GamingControlAnjouan.com)
- Gaming Laboratories International (GLI.com)
