Interac e-Transfer at online casinos: limits, fees and how long each step takes

The limit is your bank's, not Interac's

Interac does not set one limit for everyone. In its own words, limits "are set by your financial institution, but are typically $2,000 to $3,000 per transaction for consumers".Source [1] Interac also says it "cannot assist with transactions, account issues or limit increases": for a higher limit, you ask your bank.Source [2]

National Bank publishes its limits: $4,000 per 25-hour period and $14,000 per 7-day period.Source [4] Other banks show theirs inside online banking. The casino adds a second layer: a minimum per deposit, often $10 to $20, and sometimes a maximum lower than your bank's.

The fee is your bank's too

"The amount depends on your financial institution," Interac says about the cost of sending, and it "might even be included with your banking service package".Source [1] For money requests, "there may be a fee from your bank or credit union".Source [2] None of the casinos in our tables lists a fee of its own for Interac deposits.

Two ways a casino collects an e-Transfer

At a casino, the transfer rarely goes to the casino by name. It goes to a processor, which matches it to your account.Source [5]Source [6]

Send money with a message ID. The cashier shows a recipient (for example "Gigadat"), an email address and a unique ID. You send the e-Transfer from your banking app with the ID in the message field.Source [5]

Accept a Request Money. The processor sends you a request, and you approve it in your banking app. With Gigadat it reads "Gigadat Inc. sent you a request for money".Source [5]Source [7]

A deposit, step by step

1. In the casino cashier, choose Interac e-Transfer and enter the amount.
2. Note the recipient, the email and the unique ID the cashier shows.
3. Open your banking app and send an e-Transfer to that recipient.
4. Paste the ID in the message field; if asked for a security answer, use the one from the cashier.
5. Send within 24 hours of starting the deposit; Gigadat, for example, won't credit a later transfer.Source [5]
6. Wait for the balance to update. Interac puts transfers at almost instant, up to 30 minutes.Source [2]

Why the payout takes longer

A withdrawal goes through three schedules in a row. First the casino's pending period; one casino in our tables holds withdrawals for 48 hours before processing. Then the processor's working days: Gigadat sends payouts Monday to Friday and says the notice arrives the next day.Source [5] Last, the e-Transfer itself, which is quick.

Not every cashier pays out by Interac. Some take Interac deposits but return money by bank transfer (EFT), card or another wallet. The table on our Interac casino page shows both directions for each casino.

What Interac says about gambling

The only mention we found on Interac's pages is in Business Request Money: consumers can fund "an account with a licensed lottery and gaming operator" that way.Source [3] Interac says nothing about offshore casinos. At those sites the transfer is handled by a third-party processor, and the limits depend on the site and your bank. Interac does not endorse any casino, and no casino should claim it does. PayPal draws the line more strictly and works only with approved, licensed operators: see PayPal at Canadian betting sites and casinos.

Pros and cons of Interac at a casino

My verdict

For most Canadian players, Interac e-Transfer is the method I'd start with: it runs through your own bank, and your bank publishes the limit and the fee. The part to check is the way back. Pick a casino that lists Interac for withdrawals too, and expect the payout to follow business days. BitStarz lists Interac in both directions for Canada, from $20 in and $50 out.