There’s various reasons why this can happen.
Many questions players have about online casinos are related to casino withdrawals. I’m sure I don’t need to explain why. Anyone whose put their money into a casino wants to know that when they’re ready to cash out, they are paid out what they’re owed (winnings or any remaining funds deposited).
Online casino withdrawal issues were one of the first concerns I had before starting my online casino journey. I was confident that making a deposit would be easy and pretty much instant (which it is). However, whether I’d get to claim my winnings and how long this process would take, was honestly one of the reasons I first hesitated to play online.
It recently occurred to me that while I have discussed my preferred online casino deposit method, I’ve yet to talk about withdrawals. In case you’ve been waiting for my thoughts on casino withdrawals, here it is!
I’ve laid it out in a FAQs format based on the questions I had about the subject, to make it easy to follow and glean any info you might want to know.
Why Can withdrawals be delayed at online casinos?
I learned that casino withdrawals can be delayed for lots of reasons. That said, most withdrawal delays have to do with the casino enforcing anti-fraud measures. Based on my research and personal experience, here’s what I found to be the most common reasons why online casino withdrawal issues can occur.
You didn’t complete ID verification
This is perhaps the top reason. It’s also the reason why I experienced online casino withdrawal problems the first time around. I needed to upload personal documents to verify my identity before my withdrawal request could be processed.
If you haven’t yet completed ID verification protocols, you won’t be able to make casino withdrawals. ID verification is part of every legitimate Ontario online casino’s KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements. It is an anti-fraud measure to discourage criminal activity as well as to prevent underage gambling and protect problem gamblers who have chosen to self-exclude.
Most casino verifying ID requirements include proof of identity and current address. You will need to send images of official, personal documents to complete the process. Typically, one document must include a photo of you as well as your full name and signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport, etc.). The second document needs to be dated no more than 3 months old and have your name and address on it (e.g. a bank statement, utility bill, etc.).
Once verification is completed (this can be instant or take a few hours or longer – depends on the casino’s system), and your withdrawal checks out, it will be processed.
For me, completing the verification step was quick and easy. I won’t go into detail about it here. I’ll save that for another post that will be all about online casino ID verification.
You’ve entered incorrect account details
Casinos are sticklers for ensuring information matches up. The details you provided when creating your account and when making your deposits, must be identical to the details you use when making casino withdrawals. It’s as simple as that.
If there are discrepancies, there will be a delay while they verify your identity to ensure you’re not someone attempting to commit fraud. To avoid this issue, always double-check that the information you enter is correct.
You’ve entered incorrect payment details
If you are withdrawing, especially using Wire Transfer, a debit card or credit card, it’s important to ensure you enter all the info correctly. If details are incorrect, this will certainly cause a delay.
Carefully review your casino withdrawals requests before you submit it. Likewise, the online casino should send you a confirmation email once you’ve submitted your request. Go over this email. If you spot any mistakes, get in touch with support immediately to cancel the withdrawal. Alternatively, you can use the reverse withdrawal option if it’s available (a casino holds your request for a short period of time, giving you the chance to reverse it. Your funds will then be returned to your casino account).
An additional note about credit and debit cards. If you get a new card, the CVV/CVC (Card Verification Value/Code) on the back of the card (the 3- or 4-digit code) and the expiration, will be different from the original card you used at the casino. Be sure to update this info with the casino (this may include sending a photo of the new card) to avoid delays.
You’re using a withdrawal method different from your deposit method
Most iGaming sites require you to use the same payment method for making casino withdrawals as your deposit. For instance, if you use Interac for making a deposit, you should use Interac to make a withdrawal.
Sometimes you can choose a different withdrawal method. However, this tends to be permitted only if the deposit payment method you chose has no withdrawal option.
I use Paysafecard to deposit and have the option of withdrawing to myPaysafe account or make a Wire Transfer. However, although Paysafecard is a withdrawal option for me, I have experienced issues when attempting to withdraw back to myPaysafe account. This has meant I’ve been required to use Wire Transfer, which has lead to me experiencing casino withdrawal delays.
You haven’t met the minimum withdrawal amount.
Some online casinos have minimum withdrawal amounts (e.g.$2, $5, etc.). I’ve read that these can differ from one casino to the next and may also vary depending on the payment method. Personally, I’ve never experienced this. The payment method I use has no minimum withdrawal requirement.
If a there is a minimum requirement, you will need to have more than this amount in order for your withdrawal to be processed.
You’re using a casino payment method that takes long to process.
Not all payment methods are equal. Some process instantly, others can take 24 hours or up to 5 business days or longer to process. For instance*:
- Credit/Debit Cards – up to 8 hours
- e-Wallets (PayPal) – up to 24 hours
- Mobile wallets (Apple Pay) – within 24 hours
- Bank Transfers – 24 – 48 hours
- Wire Transfer – 1 – 5 days
- Crypto – within an hour
Check the casino withdrawal processing time associated with the payment method you are using so you know what to expect.
Additionally, keep in mind that the above payment processing times come into effect only after casino withdrawals requests have been approved by the casino and the funds have been released. Depending on where you play, this approval period could be instant, a few hours, 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours.
*Note: Other than Wire Transfer, I’ve personally never tried the payment methods I’ve listed. The times given are a general estimate based on what I’ve seen from other people’s experiences and is not a guarantee of what you can expect. Also, processing times may vary from casino to casino.
You’ve requested casino withdrawals outside of business hours.
Some online casinos process withdrawals 24/7. Others do not. If where you play falls into the latter category, this means that your withdrawal will only be processed within the hours of operation.
This could mean only on business days (Monday to Friday) and between specific hours (e.g. 8am – 4pm). In this case, a withdrawal request made on Saturday will automatically be delayed until hours of operation resume on Monday.
Knowing when a casino processes withdrawals can help you to avoid delays by ensuring you make your withdrawals during active times.
You have an active bonus and wagering requirements have not been met
Sometimes withdrawal delays can occur due to unfulfilled wagering requirements. The casino should not stop you from withdrawing any of your own funds that you’ve personally deposited. However, they can stop you from attempting to withdraw winnings associated with an active bonus where playthrough requirements have not been met.
Keep in mind that should you choose to go ahead with the withdrawal of your own funds, in most cases this will forfeit any active bonus and wins associated with it.
Your account has been flagged for suspicious activity
If you’ve been using your account in a way the casino deems inappropriate, you can expect issues with your casino withdrawals. In some cases, the withdrawal may be delayed until the matter is resolved. In others, your funds could be confiscated, and your account closed. Specifically, reasons casino withdrawals could be denied include:
- Duplicate accounts
- Bonus Abuse (setting up multiple accounts just to claim the welcome offer and then abandoning the accounts)
- Processing huge deposits with minimal or no play (sign of money laundering)
- Using illegal software to gain an unfair advantage
- Purposefully disconnecting from games to prevent losses
- Irregular or minimum-risk play with active bonuses in an attempt to quickly clear playthrough requirements.
In essence, if the casino suspects you of activity that is in breach of its terms and conditions, expect delayed or denied withdrawals.
You’re using a VPN
Legitimately licensed online casinos are only regulated to offer real money games to people in specific locations. While you might be able to access, connect and play real money games at a casino via a VPN, this is against their regulations.
If a casino has reason to believe that you are using a VPN while playing, they will investigate your account and delay withdrawals in progress.
You’re underage
This one is a no-brainer. Anyone under the legal gambling age cannot make casino withdrawals (that would be anyone 18 or younger in Ontario). So, if you’re underage, don’t try to dupe an online casino with fake credentials. A casino will deny withdrawals if it suspects illegal activity .
You’re playing at a fraudulent gambling site.
If the casino is not paying, it could be a scam site. Protect yourself by always making sure you’re playing at a licensed and regulated online casino.
How to make sure your online casino withdrawals go through
Now that you know the main reasons why casino withdrawals can be delayed, here’s some tips on how to make sure they go through:
- Play at a legitimate and licensed Ontario online casino.
- Read the casino’s terms and conditions.
- Complete ID verification prior to withdrawing.
- Use the same payment method for withdrawals as you use to make your deposits.
- Make sure all payment details are up to date (e.g. expiry on credit card, etc.).
- Enter all details requested during the casino withdrawals process accurately.
- Complete all bonus playthrough requirements of any active bonuses prior to making a withdrawal.
- Don’t cheat/abuse the casino’s terms and conditions.
How to resolve delayed or denied withdrawals
Here’s what to do if your casino withdrawal is delay/denied:
- Reread the terms and conditions to make sure you have not violated any of the casinos rules that could give them cause to delay/deny your withdrawal.
- Get in touch with the online casino’s customer service. The support team will be able to explain the reason(s) fore the delay or denial and help you to sort out any casino withdrawal issues. Be sure to document all communications between you and support.
- If the casino support cannot provide a solution or is unhelpful, escalate your complaint to the casino’s management. Explain your situation in detail and provide any relevant evidence to support your complaint. Like before, document all communications between you and the gambling business. These references could come in handy later if a solution is not reached.
- If the gambling business refuses to cooperate, escalate your complaint to a third-party that can help you to resolve the issue. In Ontario, you’d start by registering a complaint with iGaming Ontario (see screenshot below).
- Finally, if the issue is still not resolved, you can take the dispute to court. The best course of action is to find a lawyer who specializes in gambling disputes.
Casino Withdrawals FAQ
Can a casino refuse to pay out?
Yes, they can. Casinos can legally refuse to cash you out under certain circumstances, such as if you are in breach of their terms and conditions, are engaging in criminal activity, etc.
Casinos can also refuse to pay out if they operate a fraudulent business and are attempting to scam you out of your money.
If a casino denies your withdrawal, the first step is to find out why. From there you can proceed to resolve the issue directly with the casino and then take further legal action if warranted.
How do I get my money back from an online casino?
You make a withdrawal request. Follow the instructions on how to complete this process as laid out by the casino. If your withdrawal request is denied, contact customer support to find out why. Learning the explanation can help you to resolve the issue.
If the casino’s customer support fails to help you, reach out to the regulator with whom the online casino is licensed and lodge a formal complaint. If further escalation is needed, seek legal advice from a lawyer who specializes in gambling disputes.
Why do casinos take so long to withdraw?
Primarily, it has to do with security reasons. Online casinos have stringent security and verification procedures to ensure the person requesting the withdrawal is a legitimate account holder.
Casino withdrawals delays can also occur if there are issues with the request that need to be resolved, such as incorrect details, choice of payment method, and any one of the other reasons I covered above.
How long do casino withdrawals take?
The time it takes to complete casino withdrawals depends on two main factors:
- How long it takes the casino to approve the withdrawal request – On average it takes between 1 and 3 days. However this time could be shorter or longer depending on when the casino processes withdrawals, if you are a VIP player (typically VIP withdrawals are processed faster), or if there are issues with your request.
- The payment method you use – Some payments take longer than others to process. For instance, bank transfers – up to 8 hours, eWallets – within 24 hours, credit/debit cards – up to 2 days, etc.
What happens if a casino can’t pay you?
If an online casino can’t pay because they don’t have the money, they are still legally obligated to pay you. In extreme cases, casinos can declare bankruptcy to pay players.
This is another reason why it’s important to choose to play only at licensed and regulated online casinos in Ontario (or in whatever jurisdiction where you play). Casinos that are licensed by reputable governing bodies must take certain measures (enforce rules and regulations) to manage their financial risks, ensuring players can always be paid.
I hope this has helped you to understand why delays in casino withdrawals can occur. Have you experienced withdrawal issues not covered above? I’d love to know about them and invite you to share them below!
Until next time, good luck and have fun.
Mia 👩💻
**All links and images in this post are for informational purposes only.
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