Established in 1850, American Express is widely considered to be one of the premier credit card companies in the United States. American Express cards used to be exceptionally popular among US-based sports betting participants, but unfortunately the low reliability of those cards became a serious issue once the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 was passed, rendering it as a less reliable credit card sportsbook deposit method than some of the other brands. Ever since the Department of Justice placed new regulations on how US credit card transactions could be processed, American Express users have been reporting more and more issues with obtaining transaction approvals. As a result, numerous online sportsbooks have already decided to stop supporting American Express deposits.

Consequently, American Express friendly sportsbooks are not as plentiful, and bettors may face some challenges in obtaining approvals. The sportsbook brands we recommend do employ several premium payment processors to provide the best chances of getting the transactions through, however it does not guarantee that every card will work. If using your Visa or MasterCard is an option, you may have better success with these cards.

While using your Amex card to fund your online sports betting account can be hit or miss in some cases, it is still a viable option to be explored. Most sportsbooks that accept this option also have some alternative methods for US players to use their American Express Card on their site. For example, some sites also offer Secure Payment Vouchers that accept credit card payments in exchange for providing a prepaid voucher to fund your gambling account. Therefore, an initial transaction denial does not necessarily end your Amex prospects for betting on sports online.

As with the majority of our recommended USA sportsbook deposit methods, making an American Express deposit is quick and secure – all you need to do is click on the deposit option in the cashier menu and pick the relevant banking method. As long as the transaction isn't blocked, the money should be credited to your account within moments. It is customary for the sportsbook to require that you complete an identification verification process prior to accepting your first credit card deposit. This is done to protect cardholders and their sensitive financial data. Please note that only the cards that have been cleared for international transactions can be used to deposit to offshore sports betting sites – the domestic-only prepaid cards that can be obtained at local retail locations simply won't work. Most bank issued cards come with this clearance already in place. Online sportsbooks apply no charges for credit card deposits in most cases.

Even if your transaction gets blocked, you won't lose any money or face any legal problems. In fact, the only consequence of having your card declined is that you'll be forced to try a different one if you decide to stick with this payment method. Generally speaking, American Express deposits have a lower transaction approval success rate than either Visa or MasterCard, which explains why Amex is not as readily accepted as the other brands at all sportsbook betting sites. Should you have issues with using your Amex card and want to try another option, money transfers such as Western Union and MoneyGram are good reliable options, as well as Secure Payment Vouchers which I have never had trouble using so far. Unfortunately, US players do not have the option of taking advantage of ewallet sportsbook deposits as all electronic wallet service providers have exited the US gambling market at this time.

Bettors who made a deposit using a credit card are required to use an alternative banking method when requesting a withdrawal due to the fact that US-facing sportsbooks don't support credit and debit card cash outs. The default cash out option for most sites is to use a bank wire transfer, which requires the customer to cover a small fee and which shouldn't take more than 14 days to complete. If you're withdrawing massive amounts of money, a good alternative is to go for a check by courier. This method is sometimes provided at no charge though fees may apply depending on the destination, and many sites have higher maximum withdrawal limits for checks. It typically takes between 2 weeks and 30 days to receive your check, varying from brand to brand.

Please note that making a credit card deposit prevents you from requesting a withdrawal via Western Union or MoneyGram – if you want to cash out using a money transfer option, you should definitely make a deposit using this method. When using your American Express to fund your account, you will be required to provide some documentation that authenticates your identity as the cardholder during your initial deposit. This process should also cover your identify verification requirements for making withdrawals, so this should not cause any delays when requesting your first withdrawal, however it is not uncustomary for the sportsbook to ask for additional information about your address and such in order to meet their requirements for fraud prevention. While it may seem cumbersome, it is a very strong protection for players against theft and fraud should someone steal your credit card and attempt to use it to gamble online.

To get more information about the American Express Credit Card, you can contact them through any of the following options:

American Express Official Website: www.AmericanExpress.com

American Express Email Contact: not available

American Express Phone Contact: 1-800-528-4800