Interac vs. Discover

If you’re rummaging through the online gambling world searching for top-tier payment options, you’ll likely run into methods like Interac and Discover. In hindsight, these services don’t have much in common. Their similarities start with safety and reliability and end with their popularity in the online gambling space. The differences between these two methods might be significant, but they’re what make them such common choices for many. One of them offers a combination of services suited to different players while the other brings a more traditional way of banking to today’s modern digital environment. Both services are undoubtedly excellent, but with such fierce competition in the current market, an important question arises among gaming fans. Why choose Interac or Discover for online casino transactions?

About Interac

Interac and Discover are very different services. While this puts them at opposite ends of the banking spectrum, it hasn’t held them back. Both methods have been around for decades, building a solid reputation among fans and peers alike. On top of this, they’ve had more than enough time to explore various industries and establish themselves as go-to options with much to offer. Naturally, the online gambling industry is one of them. These services are fan favorites among casino connoisseurs, as they make the overall online gaming experience an unforgettable one.

The first method we’ll be talking about is Interac. Unlike most payment services we see today, this one isn’t run by a traditional company. It was created in 1984 in Canada by a non-profit organization looking to make transacting within the region easier. Thanks to its status as a non-profit, it was easier for the service to establish professional contacts and build a network that helped it succeed. The service had over 200 banks on its side not long after launching. This combined with its stellar reputation made it a go-to choice in countless fields.

Something to note about Interac is that the service is exclusive to Canadian users. While this might disappoint global explorers, it’s excellent news for Canadian casino fans. The service is insanely well-known in the country. Most people can recognize its logo instantly and have likely used the service personally. Of course, there’s a good reason for this. The method offers several different services under one umbrella. These include the Interac Debit option, Interac Online, and the Interac eTransfer service. These options bring something unique to the table, making them great tools for different users.

If you’re still questioning how this payment option became such a big hit today, the answer is much simpler than you might think. While the excellent perks have a lot to do with it, the main reason for Interac’s success is the service’s integrity. Throughout its long history, it’s managed to treat players and partners with the utmost respect. It listens to feedback and tries to improve as much as possible. Naturally, this approach is what makes it such a beloved option in the online gambling space. Because of it, it's a viable option in over 600 online casinos globally!

The other method we’ll be exploring today is Discover. This service launched just two years after Interac. It made its debut in 1986 in the USA and is run by the major finance company Discover Financial Services. This method keeps things pretty simple. It’s a traditional credit card at its core, with a few attention-grabbing bells and whistles added to give it an edge. Of course, these additions are practically essential. Since the service launched much later than already well-established bank cards like VISA, American Express, and MasterCard, it had a harder time breaking through to the mainstream.

As some of you may have guessed, Discover’s biggest market is the USA. Since the card is based in the region, it gets the most traction from followers in the area. Thankfully, it is available globally. Interested parties outside of the US needn’t worry too much about accessing it. Recently, the service has been growing a pretty solid following in Europe. Combined with its other fans all over the globe, it currently boasts over five million users!

Discover has proven to be a worthy competitor to some of the biggest brands, and it’s not hard to see why. While its base as a credit card already gives it tons of leverage with some users, its exclusive perks make it a must-have. To start, the service rewards loyalty with every transaction. It gives users 5% cashback on each payment, making it a unique choice immediately. On top of this, users appreciate the convenience it offers. To use the service, they don’t have to bother with a customer account. Additionally, they don’t have to pay annual fees like with other bank card brands.

As you can imagine, these perks have made Discover a top pick for many online casino fans. The convenience the service offers is unparalleled, and the cashback can be even more beneficial when combined with the various bonuses some of these venues have. Its presence in the online gambling space is growing by the day, and although it’s not as widespread as the other method we’ve discussed in this text, it’s available in more than 100 venues! What’s better, these casinos include some of the most popular and trusted gambling brands.

Another important aspect of this service is its security. To ensure maximum safety, Discover Financial Services assigns a unique merchant code to all brands it works with. As you can imagine, this makes it incredibly easy to track transactions and ensure they end up in the right place. Unfortunately, this security feature has been abused in the past. Mainly, banks in the US used it to reject gambling-related payments back in the day. Since online gambling laws in the region were different then, this prevented unlawful activities. Online gambling laws are now much laxer, so thankfully, this is no longer something players need to worry about.

Getting Started with the Two Methods

Getting started with Interac is a pretty simple task. Before proceeding, players should keep in mind that a prerequisite to enrolling in the service is having a valid bank account. Thankfully, you can choose from over 200 eligible banks that collaborate with the method if you don’t happen to have one. If you have a bank account you can link to the service, you can proceed to the next step. As expected, setting up an account with the service is done online. This makes things even more convenient, as everything you need can be found on the method’s official website.

To set up your account with Interac, you’ll need to fill out some basic personal information. What makes the process more interesting is the security portion. On top of basic information about themselves, users will also need to answer a few security questions. These will be used in the future to facilitate transactions and make sure they’re performed by the user in question. On top of this, users will need to verify their identity. You can do this by submitting valid photo ID documents for review. When this last step is over, your account should be good to go!

Before using Interac, we feel it’s important to give you a basic understanding of the different services it offers. While it currently includes three of them, we’ll focus on the eTransfer service and Online service, as they’re currently the most popular options. The former functions as a typical peer-to-peer service. Users can transfer funds between accounts through their email addresses and phone numbers. The latter of the two options is online banking at its finest. It allows users to transfer money directly by using their bank accounts!

No matter which option you choose, it’s best to remember that all transactions involve your bank account. Because of this, your bank will be made aware of the transactions you facilitate through the service. While some see this as a bad thing, it’s worth noting that it increases player safety. Banks often have extra protections in place, so this adds another layer of security to your payments. Another thing to keep in mind is the fees. While they’re on the smaller side, they’re attached to every transaction made with the service.

If you’ve ever applied for a bank card, the Discover getting-started process will be a familiar experience. Essentially, getting a Discover credit card is the same as getting one with any other bank. Thankfully, the service makes things easier by cutting out the middle man and facilitating the entire process online! Since the service issues cards through a personal network, there’s no need for users to visit a partnering bank. All you have to do is jump on the method’s official website to get started. Of course, it’s best to explore the various cards offered by the service before this. While all of them are similar enough, their subtle differences can greatly influence your overall experience with the service.

The registration process itself is clear-cut. It consists of two main steps, so it shouldn’t take too long for users to finish. The first part is filling out some forms with necessary personal information. Since you’re applying for a credit card, some of the questions you’ll see here can be pretty personal. They usually focus on finances, but they can also refer to things like marital status, property ownership, etc. The second part of the registration process is verifying your identity. To complete it, you can submit your driving license, government-issued ID, or any other eligible photo ID document. Once all of this is done, all that’s left is to wait till your card is approved!

Using Interac and Discover Across Online Casinos

Interac and Discover are pretty popular in the online gambling space. The former is available in over 600 venues worldwide, while the latter is a bit behind with availability in nearly 200 online casinos. These numbers are pretty impressive, but what’s even more impressive is the quality of some of the casinos in question. They offer the best games on the market and other exclusive perks, so choose a method that fits your needs and start your adventure.

If you feel like using Interac to deposit in the online casino of your choice, here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to the casino’s Banking Methods/Cashier/Deposits page. 
2. Look for Interac’s logo and click on it. 
3. You’ll be redirected to a page where you’ll need to log into your bank account using your online banking credentials. 
4. Specify the amount of money you’d like to send, and if not pre-entered, specify the casino’s email address. 
5. Enter the security question you received previously and wait for the casino to provide the answer. This is one of the security measures Interac uses. 
6. After you’ve provided the answer, the money will immediately arrive in your account.

The withdrawal process with Interac isn’t too different from depositing. Users can follow the same steps listed above to cash out, and they’ll even be privy to many of the same perks too. Not only are withdrawals with the service pretty quick, but you’ll be notified of the status of your transaction for your peace of mind. Depending on your preference, this notification will arrive via email or SMS.

If you’ve decided to use Discover for your future casino transactions, here are the steps you should follow:

1. Choose the “Deposit with Credit/Debit Card” option.
2. From the list of offered credit/debit cards, select Discover as your deposit option.
3. Enter the card information requested on the screen.
4. Enter the 3-digit verification code provided by Discover.
5. Specify how much you wish to deposit and confirm the transaction.
6. In an instant, the funds will arrive on your balance!

Users will be happy to hear that Discover withdrawals are available. They’re just as easy to do as deposits, and they follow a near-identical set of steps as the ones listed above. Unfortunately, the good news about withdrawals with the service ends there. Like most credit cards, the service has long processing times for cash outs. Usually, it will take users 5-7 days for the money to arrive in their accounts.

Another thing to you should be aware of is the credit card ban that’s effective in some European countries like the UK and Germany. It applies to all credit cards used for gambling purposes, including Discover. Sure, this might not be much of an issue to users outside these regions, but there’s always the possibility of other countries following in their lead.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Interac and Discover don’t make it easy for players to choose between them. Both options offer an excellent array of perks, especially when online gambling is in question. To hopefully make the process a bit easier, we’ll sum up the advantages and disadvantages of using them one more time below.

Interac is the jack of all trades of payment methods. It offers three excellent services suited to different types of users. In general, the method offers perks that are hard to ignore. They include lightning-quick transactions, heightened security, and access to tons of premium casino sites. Unfortunately, the method is exclusively available to Canadian players, making it a pipe dream for the rest. Another con of this service is the fees. While relatively small, they can add up over time.

Discover is an excellent option for fans of traditional payment options with a modern twist. This method carries all of the pros and cons of using credit cards, with a few additional perks to liven things up. These include the lack of annual fees, 5% cashback on all transactions, wide availability in the online gambling space, and a convenient online platform. The bad news is that the service is excruciatingly slow. If you’re hoping for quick withdrawals, you might need to look for them elsewhere.

While both services come with pros and cons, they’re still some of the best options you can choose from. We recommend going over their offers a few more times before settling on the one better suited to your needs. Whichever one that is, we don’t doubt it’ll lead to a good time!