Giftcards.com

[GPWA Ryan]

Thanks to a tip from a friend and a blogger named Grubby...I uncovered a new way of funding my poker account. By using virtual gift cards, gamblers can fund their accounts within hours, much better than waiting for the flooded financial processors to intiate their desposits.

Here is the story...

Thank you giftcards.com

February 21, 2007
by Ryan McLane


I'm an instant gratification type of guy. Waiting for days as my deposit jumps through hoops to get to my poker account drives me insane.

So when I heard about players depositing using gift cards to fund their poker accounts in the wake of the recent U.S. crackdown on online gambling financial processors, I was hesitant -- but excited by the possibility.

I first learned about the idea while playing on Full Tilt. One tournament opponent was lamenting about his inability to deposit. Another helpful opponent told him to drive to Target, purchase a Visa gift card, and stop whining.

I was skeptical, but I ran it by my editor Vin and he told me to visit "Grubby" a Chicago-based blogger writing at www.pokerworks.com "Grubby" details his experiences at www.giftcards.com , a site that allows him to purchase virtual gift cards and use them at his favorite online casinos.

And it works. I was able to fund my account in two hours.

Giftcards.com was originally designed as a way to send plastic or virtual gift cards – which can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted -- to friends or loved ones. Now, these gift cards are one of only ways left for Americans to transfer money electronically to online casinos and poker rooms.

By purchasing a virtual gift card, you can fund accounts at sites accepting Visa and MasterCard. The transaction is completed the same way; however, you use the virtual card information to avoid the banking restrictions placed on regular credit cards.

With NETeller out of the U.S. market, Click2Pay no longer accepting new U.S. customers an ePassporte taking up to three weeks to process deposits, online poker players need a new way to get transfer money. And until a better option appears, using virtual gift cards may be the best choice.

There is a fee associated with most of these transactions. It costs $2 to do business with www.giftcards.com and $.30 every time you perform a transaction. Not bad considering ePassporte charges $5 for every $100 load.

Here is a history of my www.giftcards.com deposit.

Monday

1.) Heard about using gift card deposits from a fellow Full Tilt player.

Tuesday

2.) 10 a.m. – Referenced Grubby's Blog and learned about www.giftcards.com .

3.) 10:15 a.m. - Logged onto the above mentioned site. Scoured the Web site to make sure it was a safe for conducting financial transactions.

4.) 10:16 a.m. – Decided what the hell, it's worth a shot.

5.) 10:17 a.m. – Purchased a virtual gift card.

6.) 10:25 a.m. – Received the "gift" I sent to myself in my personal email box.

7.) 10:30 a.m. – Called www.giftcards.com to verify my identity. Yes it's me - now give me my money baby.

8.) 12:30 a.m. – A confirmation appears in my email box with a link to verify my new card. I logged onto the site and was immediately transferred to a picture of my new virtual visa card --- complete with card number, expiration date, and three-digit security code.

9.) 12:35 a.m. – Logged onto Full Tilt Poker and went to the cashier. My card worked without delay. I deposited the full amount, minus the $.30 service charge.

10.) 12:36 a.m – Two hours…hooray! I shook my virtual fist at Bill Frist.

[GPWA Ryan]

Sometime this weekend, giftcards.com stopped selling their virtual gift cards, meaning the instant deposit option I wrote about is no longer an option.

A business rep. at giftcards.com told me that they are "revamping their fraud system," thus have taken away the virtual card option.

So much for this financial processor savior!

[Amateur]

Try Netspend.

[GPWA Ryan]

Gftcards.com reintroduced their "virtual visa" option, giving players the opportunity to fund their accounts in two hours or less.

I reported on this method a few weeks ago, only to see it disappear days later. Now it's back and seems to be one of the better options for online gamblers, especially considering the wait times on sites like ePassporte.

Check it out at www.giftcards.com and make sure you use the "virtual card" option if trying this processing method.

[Amateur]

I tried using this at a couple of sites, but it wasn't accepting deposits for purchases when I used it.

[Dominique]

How do you fill it in? Yourself as recipient and sender?

[Amateur]

That's how I did it, Dom.

[Dominique]

Interesting. Thanks, Amateur.

I wonder which places will take it...

[vinism]

I believe any place that accepts visa will take it, but I'll have the reporter who's been following this story post a definitive answer.

[Dominique]

Oh cool, thanks!

[GPWA Ryan]

Vinism is correct. Sites that accept Visa should accept the virtual visa card available at giftcards.com.

Now...as with any anything, there are always some exceptions. I have tried only poker rooms. I know the card works at Full Tilt, Ultimate Bet, Absolute Poker, and Poker Stars.

However, I've never tried it on other types of gambling sites. I would assume it would work if they have a visa option, but would be unwilling to bet on it

Either way, it's good news.

If this becomes a redundant issue, say sites from a particular region or specific types of gambling sites do not take the card, please let me know and I will invesigate it further.

Thanks and i hope this helps -

-McLane39

[zingbust]

From the giftcards.com FAQ...

23. Can the gift card be used for online gambling?
No, The VirtualGift and the Standard Gift Card cannot be used for online gambling, the transaction will be declined.

[GPWA Ryan]

The revolution is over!

Just heard from Bryan Micon, the founder of pokerdeposits.com (working with giftcards.com) that the company was "told to stop accepting online gambling companies."

He is not an official giftcards.com source (theyre not talking) but he has a vested interest in the matter so his word is good enough for me.

It's a shame, virtual gift cards were looking to be the wave of the future.

Sorry about all the confusion, but this case finally seems ready to close.

- McLane39