Interac is a name you will see on many of the online casinos that we cover and it’s one that is very familiar to players in Canada. However, it’s not really well known outside of Canada, and that’s unusual. So, what is this payment method, what are the pros and cons of using it, what kind of features does it offer, and what do you need to know about it?
Let’s take a look.
What is Interac?
Interac is an instant payment service that works through Canadian bank accounts. It can be used throughout Canada and users are able to send funds to businesses, casinos, and users all over the world.
To use Interac, you just need to select it from the options in the casino cashier. You will be directed to a bank selection page and once you have chosen your bank from the list and completed the sign in process, you need to choose the amount and confirm.
You do not need to have a Interac account in the same way that you need a PayPal account or a Skrill account. However, you will need to have an account with a participating bank or credit union.
On the plus side, most banks and unions are covered in Canada and you shouldn’t have an issue in that department.
The Best Interac Casinos
In many ways, Interac is very similar to Trustly, with the difference being that Trustly is available to players throughout Europe and in many locations that Interac doesn’t reach. It works in the same way, though, and it’s also very widespread.
To see how many online casinos and sportsbooks accept Interac as a payment method, just scroll to the top of this page. All of the sites that you see above accept Interac as a deposit and withdrawal method. As you would expect, these sites are also available to Canadian players.
Pros of Interac
There are many benefits to using Interac as a payment method on online casinos. Some of these are immediately obvious, others are less so, but all serve to position Interac as one of the best online casino payment methods for players in Canada.
Safe and Secure
Interac relies on major banking networks and so it’s as safe and secure as a payment method can be. You generally don’t need to worry about hacks and scams, although as is the case with all payment methods, they are only as safe as your passwords, accounts, and the WIFI through which you connect.
Accessible
Debit cards and bank transfers are often considered to be the most accessible payment options on the web. The great thing about these methods is that everyone who is old enough to legally gamble is able to use them. It means that you don’t need to look around for casinos that accept your specific method and you don’t need to go through additional sign up pages and join more programs.
What’s more, the widespread use of these payment methods means that pretty much all online casinos accept them. It’s a very similar story with Interac. Not only is it available to all legal age players with a bank account, but most online casinos that target Canadian players accept this method.
If you’re the sort of player who prefers to keep things simple and isn’t interested in joining web wallets and other such accounts, Interac could be just what you need. It is a no-nonsense payment option that makes it very easy to get from point A to point B.
Easy to Use
Interac is very easy to use. You just need to select the option from a list in the cashier, find your bank, enter your details, and you’re good to go.
It is often positioned as a faster version of a bank transfer and in many ways, that’s exactly what it is. But with a bank transfer, you need to enter the recipient’s details, double and triple check, confirm with your bank (often using two-factor authentication) and then wait for the payment to be processed.
Interac simplifies all of that process and also automates a lot of it, making it more like submitting a payment via a debit card.
No Account Needed
You don’t need a separate account to make payments through Interac. You will need a bank account, of course, but you don’t need to sign up for Interac and can just process payments as needed.
It’s rare to find payment options that don’t require a sign up, and because those signups usually require a lengthy verification process, it will save you a lot of time.
Available at a Lot of Online Casinos
As you can see from the Interac casinos listed at the top of this site, there are a huge number of sites that accept Interac, and as the payment method becomes even more popular and widespread, those casinos are becoming even more common.
In fact, some of the best casinos that we have reviewed accept Interac as a deposit and withdrawal method, along with payment options such as Bitcoin, PayPal, Skrill, Litecoin, and more.
Cons of Interac
Although there are many pros to using Interac, there are always a few drawbacks and a few ways in which Interac falls short of other popular payment methods, including:
Not Great for Bankrolling
One of the great benefits of web wallets like Skrill and PayPal, as well as cryptocurrencies, is that you can use them to assist with your bankrolling. It’s ideal if you’re monitoring your earnings and losses or have an issue with problem gambling.
If you set yourself a budget of $500 every month to use on all forms of gambling, you just need to fund your web wallet with that amount and commit to only using those funds for the rest of the month. You can use your web wallet to make deposits at a multitude of sportsbooks and online casinos and if you win, you can withdraw to the same virtual wallet and boost that budget.
With Interac, you can’t really do that as it connects directly to your bank account. Potentially, it could increase your risk of problem gambling, giving you access to all of your funds when you are at your weakest and most frustrated.
Of course, you can still bankroll effectively, it’s just not as easy and if you have problems with gambling more than you should, it leaves you more exposed.
Canadian-Centric
We’re not sure if Interac is 100% Canadian or not, but that certainly seems to be the case and if it’s not 100% if it’s definitely in the high 90s. In other words, it’s really only beneficial if you are in Canada—outside of the Great White North, there isn’t much for you here.
Compare this to services like Neteller, which are available in Canada, the United Kingdom, and dozens of other major gambling regions, and it begins to look a little poor by comparison.
Of course, if you are in Canada, none of that matters. Not only is Interac available to most—if not all—Canadian players but they can also use it to send money to people in other countries.
Connects Straight to Your Bank
Some online gamblers prefer to keep their bank accounts separate from their gambling activity, either because they are worried about getting carried away when they are drunk and/or frustrated or because they want to keep their gambling private. They also see it as a security issue and are worried that they could lose everything if their details are exposed and they are a victim of fraud.
In truth, the risk of such issues is very low, but it’s a preference thing and an understandable concern.
Alternatives to Interac
We have already discussed Trustly as an alternative to Interac, noting how it works in much the same way and offers many of the same benefits. There are other similar instant payment services, as well, but once you take these out of the equation, the closest you can get to Interac is with a payment method like Visa or Mastercard.
As with a debit card, it can be used by anyone with a valid bank account, is very secure, and processes payments quickly. The difference is that you don’t need to wait as long to get your money when you process a withdrawal.
Interac is also similar to bank transfers, although it’s nearly always the better option.
After all, Interac was designed to facilitate fast bank transfers. It’s much quicker and easier to use than bank transfers, and it’s more ideally suited to online casinos.
FAQs
How Long Do Interac Transfers Take?
Most Interac payments are processed instantly, but as with any instant payment method, it could be delayed and make take up to 30 minutes. Be patient, it doesn't take long!
Can I Contact Interac if I Have an Issue?
You can, but they may just direct you to your bank or the recipient and this should be your first move.
Can I Cancel a Transfer?
It is possible to cancel a Interac e-Transfer, but you'll need to be quick. Simply visit your bank account, check the payment history, find the relevant transaction, and cancel it. The process is not the same for all users as it's entirely dependent on your bank. If you have an issue with this process, just contact your bank and ask them to cancel it for you.
Can I Cancel a Transfer if It's Already Been Processed?
If the payment has already landed in the recipient's account, there isn't much that you can do. You can't cancel it and you can't reverse it using Interac or your bank. Instead, you will need to make arrangements with the recipient and ask them to send it back. That's not always easy, of course, but it's worth remembering that Interac is basically just a bank transfer, and bank transfers suffer from the same issues.
Are There Limits on Interac?
As with all payment methods, Interac does have deposit and withdrawal limits but these are set by the payment providers (the banks and credit unions) as well as the casinos. The two usually clash, as well.rnrnFor instance, your bank may allow you to deposit as much as $50,000 at a time or over the course of a day, but many casinos that offer this service are limited to amounts of around $5,000 to $10,000 at a time. rnrnIf youu2019re a small stake or medium stake player, this is not something that you need to worry about. Otherwise, you should consult with your bank and with the casino's terms and conditions. Withdrawal limits are a pet peeve of ours, so it's often something that you will find in our casino reviews. Just scroll down to the Deposits and Withdrawal sections.
Can I Only Use Interac in Canada?
Interac tends to be limited to Canadian casinos and Canadian players. However, you can use this service to send money to people and companies in over 75 countries around the world. So, while there are limits on the senders, there are very few limits on the receivers.
Is Interac Safe?
Interac is a very safe payment option. It utilizes the security systems employed by some of the biggest banking institutions in the world and this ensures that every transaction is safe and every cent of your money is secure.
Play Interac Casinos Now
If you are in Canada and you’re looking for a secure payment method, look no further than Interac. To find an Interac casino, just scroll up to the top of this guide and take a look at all of the websites shown there.
Not only have all of these sites been reviewed by our team our experts, but they also accept Interac for both deposits and withdrawals. You can follow the links to our reviews to learn about games, Welcome Bonuses, Loyalty Bonuses, alternative payment options, limits, and more.
If you’re ready to sign up, grab the bonus, and start playing, just click the bonus links, make a deposit, and make sure you check out the Terms and Conditions.