Canadian Online Gamers Dumped by Skrill
December 2013
Online gamers and poker players in Canada are set to lose their most popular ewallet as Skrill ceases processing their transactions in January 2014.
In a shock announcement by one of the online gaming industry's most popular online payment methods, Skrill (formerly Moneybookers) will no longer accept online gaming transactions from January 2, 2014. This comes as quite a blow for the thousands of players who rely on this payment processor to handle their online gaming account deposits and withdrawals.
Four Weeks Grace
The company has given its Canadian members four weeks to make their withdrawals from their various accounts, after which it will no longer process any igaming transactions. The move was first known about on Monday when account holders started receiving emails informing them of the decision.
Due to fairly strict rules imposed by Canadian banking institutions, players residing in Canada are already limited in their options for online payment processing. Neteller had already left the Canadian igaming market back in April 2007, leaving players with fewer reliable and trustworthy payment options.
What's Left?
All is not lost, at least not yet. There are still a few alternatives available to online poker players and igamers in Canada. Major credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted by most online gaming sites.
As far as online payment processing goes, deposits and withdrawals can still be handled by Ukash, Instadebit, Entropay and PaySafeCard, while electronic checks are another option. Of course, players will need to check with their chosen online casinos and poker rooms for details of the payment methods they accept.
Why Has This Happened?
So far, there has been no reason given by Skrill for their online gaming market exit in Canada. Some experts believe that since Skrill have re-entered the US market thanks to legalization in three states with potentially more to follow, they have bigger fish to fry.
This follows historical evidence that shows companies that get interested in the US market soon lose interest in Canada. However, there has never been any evidence of punishment meted out to payment companies that have operated in Canada.
If you are concerned about your own financial options with regard to the online gaming sites you are a member of, you should contact their customer support directly to get accurate information as to their own rules. These will naturally differ from operator to operator so it is always best to talk directly with the gaming site(s) you are a member of.
