Formerly known as Moneybookers, Skrill has been considered among the top online payment solutions for some time now. Established in 2001, it’s been a reliable method that guarantees quick, simple and secure payments. It should come as no surprise then, that a huge number of gamers and online gamblers turn to Skrill when depositing and withdrawing online. In recent times, an increasing number of online poker sites are offering full support for Skrill payments – but is it the best option to fund your poker gameplay? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Why Use Skrill
Playing online poker for real money is a hugely popular pastime and for those who are lucky and skilled enough, it can be quite lucrative. If you’re going to play for real money, you should be using a payment method that’s secure, quick and convenient. Skrill is a top choice: it fits the bill perfectly and is widely accepted at poker sites and online casinos
When it comes to security, every licensed gambling site has effective measures in place to keep your transactions secure and money safe. Unlike standard banking methods, e-wallet options such as Skrill provide an extra layer of security to virtually eliminate any risk of unauthorised access to your funds.
Your Skrill e-wallet can be used to store bank cards and can even be linked directly to your bank account. However, when using Skrill to deposit or withdraw, you’ll never need to share sensitive information, such as your debit card number, with a third party like your online poker site. All you’ll need to pay is your login details.. Plus, if you play your cards right and land a big win at the poker table, you’ll be able to get access to your funds easily and quickly. Once your online poker site has processed your withdrawal request, your funds will be available instantly for you to access as cash from a choice of convenient local options.
If Skrill ticks all your boxes, you’ll be able to sign up for free, within minutes. Once you’ve registered an account and added payment details to your Skrill e-wallet, you’ll be able to pay and play at your chosen online poker site in just a few clicks!
How to play online at a Skrill-friendly online poker site
- Compare and choose an online poker site: We’ve put together a list of reputable, trustworthy and fully licensed poker sites that offer full support for Skrill payments. All you need to do is compare and pick one that matches your needs. Our featured Skrill-friendly poker sites are jam-packed with the best bonuses, poker freerolls as well as the latest and greatest poker rooms available online.
- Sign up: After you’ve narrowed down your search and picked out a favourite, you’ll need to follow our link to sign up and become eligible for your exclusive welcome bonus. Registering an account is quick and easy – all you’ll need to do is provide a few personal details and contact information. You’ll be done within minutes!
- Create a Skrill account: Not registered with Skrill already? You’ll be able to sign up within minutes and pay within seconds. Opening your free account is simple, all you’ll need to do is provide your email address, a few personal details and contact information. You’ll then need to link a debit card or bank account to your account before you can use it to make payments.
- Make a deposit: Now that you’re signed up and ready to pay, the next step is to make your first deposit. Visit the cashier page of your chosen online poker site and follow the on-screen instructions. Choose Skrill as your payment method and deposit your desired amount. If you’re a new player, you can expect to receive your welcome bonus almost instantly follow your first deposit, on most occasions. However, there are no deposit bonuses out there which are credited upon registration.
- Find a game to join: Skrill guarantee instant payments, so you’ll be able to head to the poker lobby right away. Here, you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of free and real money poker rooms. Just about every good poker brand has a top-notch Texas Hold’em game in its locker, plus you’ll also be able to try out other variations tailored to match your playing style and bankroll.
Skrill prepaid Mastercard
Skrill also offer a prepaid Mastercard that can be used as an alternative to their e-wallet product. The main draw of using a physical Skrill card is that it gives you more flexibility when using your funds offline. You can enjoy instant access to your account balance and use abroad anywhere Mastercard is accept. Pretty much every retailer accepts Mastercard, plus you’ll be able to withdraw money at ATMs, too – so you won’t be short of options.
There are no credit checks and you benefit from the added privacy and security of your Skrill balance not being linked to your bank account. Plus, there are no limits on how often you can top up the card, however there is a daily cap on transactions of £4,550. This still makes it a great options for high rollers and VIPs.
The card is free to request and activate, but there is an annual charge of €10 which will deducted from the funds in your e-wallet. Furthermore, there are no charges for using the card either, except for ATM withdrawals (1.75%).
Security
We already know that Skrill payments only require your email address and password as minimum requirements to authorise a transaction. While this means that your card or bank details are never shared with third parties, this isn’t the only technical measure in place to keep you safe.
In the case that any breaches do occur, Skrill have you covered. Any information Skrill transmit is protected by the highest standard of encryption – Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards Level 1 (PCI-DSS Level 1). Put simply, this means that any attempt made to intercept your data will be unsuccessful, as it will be unreadable.
Furthermore, Skrill also allows users to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This allows you to use the Google Authenticator app to provide an extra layer of security. Not only will you require your password to log in, but you’ll also need to present a one-time use authentication code given to you by the Google Authenticator app. If you don’t have access to the Google Authenticator app, Skrill offer their own alternative. The PIN authentication feature can be used as a challenge when logging in, sending or withdrawing funds.
Technical measures aside, Skrill was the UK’s first licensed e-money issuer and is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). All things considered, you can rest assured knowing you’re in safe hands.
Fees
While it’s free to fund your Skrill wallet with a local bank transfer and pay at any retailer that accepts Skrill, there are a few small fees for depositing with other methods. Skrill promise to keep its fees for money transfers low and totally transparent, so let’s take a closer look.
Credit cards incur a fee between 1.9 and 4.95 percent, while using a Neteller account will require a 3 percent fee. There are also fees for Skrill withdrawals, ranging from £5.50 for bank transfers to £7.50 for Visa.
As well as Skrill’s own fees, some online poker sites may add extra processing costs. This isn’t particularly common, but we’d recommend checking out the terms and conditions just to be sure.
Welcome bonuses
While several poker sites do accept Skrill as a payment method, you might find that making your first deposit with Skrill disqualifies you from claiming a new customer offer from your chosen poker site. This is the main concern for players using Skrill. We recommend reading the terms and conditions of any bonus offer before heading to the cashier to make a deposit, just to be on the safe side.
