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PayPal is the most popular online wallet in the world, and it has once again become an option for some online gambling markets — including parts of the US.
After cutting off gambling-related transactions for several years, PayPal has reopened its services to regulated operators. The majority of legal, licensed online gambling sites now make use of PayPal.
Below are some of the basics about using PayPal in connection with online gambling.
Online gambling sites accepting PayPal in the US
Paypal is used extensively across betting, fantasy sports, and online casino/poker platforms.
Sports Betting Apps With PayPal
All of the best online sportsbooks in the US use Paypal, including DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook. Here are some of the top choices:
| Online Sportsbook | Promo Code (Click to Claim) | States Operating | Accepts PayPal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | Bonus bet up to $1,000 with bonus code BONUSCOM50 | AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, NJ, OH, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY - Note: Offer not available in DC, MS, NV or NY | Yes |
| Caesars | First bet back up to $1,250 with promo code: SBBONUSFULL | AZ, CO, IN, IA, IL, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV | Yes |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Up to $1,000 No Sweat First Bet | AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY | Yes |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Deposit $5, Get $50 Bonus Bet + 20% deposit match up to $1,000 | AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY | Yes |
| BetRivers | 100% deposit match up to $500 with bonus code BONUSPLAY | AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, LA, MD, MI, OH, NJ, NY, PA, VA & WV | Yes |
| PointsBet | Get 5 Second Chance Bet Credits Up to $250 total with bonus code Click to Claim | CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA & WV | Yes |
| Unibet | Bonus bet between $100 and $500, depending on state, with bonus code BETBONUS | AZ, IN, IA, NJ, PA & VA | Yes |
Online Casinos With PayPal
All of the best online casino sites offer PayPal for both deposits and cashout:
Note that you’ll likely need to deposit with PayPal first before you can withdraw with PayPal.
Online Poker With PayPal
In 2015, PayPal started processing online poker payments, including for the best and most popular site, WSOP. It was an important addition to help further differentiate the regulated industry from the unregulated one. Now, all the best online poker sites offer PayPal:
- BetMGM Online Poker (MI, NJ, PA): Get $75 bonus on first deposit + 100% deposit-match up to $1,000 using bonus code PLAYCHIP
- WSOP.com (MI, NV, NJ, PA): Get $25 bonus on signup + $25 bonus on deposit + 100% deposit match up to $1,000 using promo code 25BONUS
- PokerStars (MI, NJ, PA): Play 1 Hand, Get $50 bonus OR get a 100% deposit-match bonus up to $600 with bonus code STARS600
- 888poker (NJ, DE): Get $20 bonus on signup + 100% deposit-match up to $1,500
- partypoker (NJ, PA): Get $25 bonus on signup + 100% deposit-match up to $1,000 with promo code CHIPPLAY
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Sites With PayPal
PayPal also facilitates transactions related to daily fantasy sports (DFS). The contests are believed to fall under skill-game laws in most states, although there is a lack of legal clarity in some. Nonetheless, PayPal processes deposits and withdrawals for all DFS sites (such as DraftKings and FanDuel) in all states where they operate.
Horse Betting Sites
Several of the regulated online horse race wagering sites in the US accept PayPal, including the best option, TVG. Claim Offer: TVG promo code LSRTVG for a bonus bet up to $200. You can claim the offer by adding money to your TVG account with PayPal.
Read more about online horse betting.
PayPal Gambling FAQ
How do I fund a PayPal account?
Using an existing balance is arguably the easiest way to deposit to a poker room, casino, or sportsbook. But if you’re starting with an empty PayPal account, there are several quick ways to fund it.
An instant electronic check can be drawn from a bank account, and larger transactions are facilitated via wire transfers. European gamblers may also use a credit card or debit card, including the PayPal Extras Mastercard.
The latter is not an option for Americans. Those in the US may not use a card to fund their PayPal account for gambling purposes.
Can I deposit using PayPal if I don’t have a PayPal account?
No. Players must create a PayPal account if they wish to use it as a deposit method. It’s a simple process that only takes a few minutes.
It’s also worth noting that many online gambling sites require the user account and PayPal account to be registered with the same e-mail address.
How do I withdraw from PayPal?
PayPal withdrawal options include electronic check and check by mail. The site also offers a debit card that may be used at most retailers and ATMs.
Why don’t I see PayPal as a withdrawal method?
PayPal will appear as a withdrawal option once a deposit is made using the service.
Are there fees associated with using PayPal at online gambling sites?
Online gambling sites typically do not charge a fee, and there is no PayPal fee for using an existing balance or funds transfer from a bank account. PayPal does charge 2.9 percent for transactions using a credit card or debit card.
Can I use a family member or friend’s account to deposit via PayPal?
No. The PayPal account used to deposit at a gambling site must belong to the account holder.
Is PayPal a safe way to deposit at gambling sites?
Yes. PayPal has a reputation as one of the very safest e-wallets. It’s arguably safer than using a bank account directly, as it provides an additional layer of security between the gambling site and the player’s financial information.
What are the pros and cons of using PayPal?
Pros:
- Instant deposits
- Variety of deposit options, including credit cards, debit cards and electronic bank transfer
- Provides a buffer between the gambling website and financial information
- Widely accepted by large businesses, making it more useful than some of its competitors
- Balances can be created and transferred between friends and organizations
Cons:
- Deposit fees associated with credit card deposits
- Withdrawals can be slower than other e-wallets
What countries use PayPal for online gambling?
PayPal is available for gamblers in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
Gamblers in regulated US markets can use PayPal for online gaming transactions, too, and it’s an option for sports betting and horse betting sites where permitted.
Can US players deposit at a gambling site using PayPal?
PayPal only permits gambling transactions in jurisdictions where it is licensed, like Europe. Online gambling sites in Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey are also permitted to use PayPal as a payment option.
The gambling sites available to players outside of regulated markets are, by definition, unregulated. Often located offshore, PayPal does not do business with those sites.
Do DraftKings and FanDuel accept PayPal?
DraftKings and FanDuel are daily fantasy sports sites. Most state laws classify these platforms as a form of skill gaming. Therefore, PayPal’s legal opinion is that processing DFS payments is legal in all available jurisdictions.
Didn’t PayPal once process payments for offshore sites?
Yes. PayPal was once the main ewallet for offshore gaming sites that accepted US players. This included poker, casino and sports betting, processing these payments until late 2002.
The US government began investigating these transactions around this time, citing both the Wire Act and the Patriot Act. The legal pressure was likely a significant factor in PayPal’s ensuing sale to eBay. The new owner paid a $10 million civil fine to clear the slate with the courts.
Under eBay’s guidance, PayPal ceased all gambling transactions for a time.
History of PayPal in online gambling
PayPal was the first major ewallet on the internet, allowing easy financial exchanges between companies and/or individuals.
It quickly became the top choice for online gambling sites that accepted US players, representing a significant portion of PayPal’s total business. Gambling transactions accounted for about eight percent of PayPal’s entire processing operation in 2002.
At the time, PayPal was primarily building a base of customers in North America. That has changed drastically, with PayPal growing into an international giant that processes payments in over 100 countries.
eBay acquired PayPal in 2002, but the company has since split into two separate entities again.
eBay purchases PayPal
Part of eBay’s interest stemmed from the fact that PayPal is the most popular way to purchase an item on the online auction site.
The company stopped processing online gambling payments almost immediately after the 2002 merger, leaving the US online gaming market with a massive void. Firepay and Neteller stepped in to fill it, and all three of those companies ran into some legal trouble over the following years.
PayPal was an early target for a federal investigation, and it agreed to pay a $10 million civil settlement to dispose of the case. That amount was equal to the estimated profit PayPal made while processing online gambling payments.
PayPal returns to online gambling
PayPal/eBay steered clear of online gambling until 2009 before re-approaching the industry.
This time around, though, it only did business with sites that were fully legal and licensed in the jurisdictions where payments were processed. This generally meant that the UK was the only country where PayPal was available as a deposit and withdrawal option.
Betfair, a sports betting exchange, was the first online gambling site to use PayPal elsewhere in Europe. Maybe not coincidentally, Betfair never accepted US gamblers, even before the UIGEA took hold in 2006. Before that time, virtually every gambling site was transacting in the US.
Other online gaming companies followed suit, including 888, bwin, PartyPoker and PokerStars. In the time since, PayPal has continued to restrict its gambling transactions to legal, regulated markets.
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