InstaDebit is an electronic wallet service that started in Canada. Now it has expanded its coverage to 31 other countries as well. US residents are forbidden to sign up. Instadebit services are not available, even for account holders, if they are physically in the United States as US banks are asked not to participate. This situation is likely to continue unless and until the US Congress changes its prohibition against online gambling.

Like other “e-Wallet” programs, Instadebit receives transfers from the account holder’s bank. Then it will forward funds to participating merchants upon request of the account holder. Only transfers from the account holder’s banks are accepted for funding deposits. Instadebit does not receive transfers from credit card accounts.

Instadebit will transfer into player accounts with online gaming establishments and will process withdrawals as well. They reside in the player’s “Instadebit account,” and can be spent via Instadebit or sent back to the customer’s bank account. Transactions take place immediately, without processing delays. Merchants pay the bank a transaction fee for the service. The account holder does not pay a fee; however, some casinos may charge a fee for loading the account in this way.

Instadebit does collect personal information about the account holder: name, address, date of birth, social insurance number, and bank account information. The information is confidential under Canada’s “TRUSTe” confidentiality program. Users uniformly praise the service as efficient, fee-free, secure, confidential and reliable.

Countries covered by Instadebit’s “real time” service include, in addition to Canada: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. Instadebit’s “local banking services” are available in those countries and in Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Uruguay. New countries are added frequently.