Withdrawals – getting money out of the poker site

To withdraw money from your poker account, you go to the Cashier section of the poker client and request a cash-out in the desired amount. The most convenient methods are NETeller or, available from only a few sites, an electronic funds transfer (EFT) direct to your bank account. Consult the poker web site for details on cash-out options and fees; here are some examples:

• Cash-out options and fees at Party Poker.
• Cash-out options and fees at Poker Stars.

Some sites insist on using the same financial processor you used to make your original deposits, from oldest to newest. For example, if you used FirePay to deposit $100 and now you want to withdraw $150, the site may credit $100 to your FirePay account and give you a choice on the remaining $50. Other sites give you full flexibility to choose your cash-out method.

Most sites also offer the option of mailing you a check that you can deposit into your bank account. This usually takes several weeks unless you pay a fee for express service. Some sites offer free FedEx delivery of checks over $500.

A few sites offer an electronic funds transfer (EFT) direct to your bank account. You follow a similar certification process as you do for NETeller, which takes about a week, but once this is set up the transfer only takes a few days. There is no need for an intermediary such as NETeller. Party Poker's iGM-Pay cash-out option is an example of this.

Each poker site has its own policy for minimum cash-out amounts and how often you can make a withdrawal. While these vary, a typical policy is $5 minimum via NETeller, $50 minimum via bank draft and no more than one withdrawal of any kind per week.

Beware trouble-prone sites

Some poker sites have better cash-out procedures than others. The best sites handle your cash-out request promptly and without making you jump through hoops. That translates into a 1-3 day delay on your first cash-out request while they perform some anti-fraud checks. For example, they might call you on the phone. Later withdrawals may be handled more quickly, sometimes without any delay at all. Once the fraud department has approved the withdrawal, some additional time is required depending on the cash-out method. NETeller takes only a few seconds, an electronic funds transfer a few days, a mailed bank draft a week or more. The sites with the best reputation for prompt handling of cash-outs are Poker Stars, Party Poker and Paradise Poker.

The bad sites look for any excuse to delay your withdrawal in the hope that you will change your mind and cancel your request. Some impose a mandatory 3-4 day waiting period before they will even begin processing your request. Then they may demand that you send them copies of your utility bill or credit card statement to prove that you are you. Or they may simply drag their feet and not get around to processing your request until you call them up to complain. In the end, you will probably get your money, but why should you put up with this nonsense? People rarely complain about the top 5 sites behaving in this dishonest manner. If you play for real money, you would be wise to avoid the smaller sites that haven't yet established a strong reputation.