Given you are living in a state where real money skill games are available, you can make deposits and withdrawals into your gaming account. You can win real money from your games and tournaments, and when the time comes to cash out these winnings, you can send the money to your bank account or use any of the provided payment methods. An easy process once you manage your first withdrawal, there are a few things to consider here for anyone who is completely new to skill games apps.
How to Withdraw From Skill Games
Your winnings from skill games apps are subject to taxation, and skill games apps do require a ID verification in case of bigger withdrawals or if you make multiple withdrawals. There may also be withdrawal charges to take note of, and the payment methods may be a lot more limited than, say, what you get at major brand US online casinos. On this page, we will run through all of these so you don’t run into any unwanted surprises, and know exactly what to expect.
We research sweepstakes casinos with a focus on the details that matter most to players, including bonuses, usability, verification, redemptions, and overall experience. Our content is written to be clear, independent, and regularly reviewed as sites and offers change.
Quick Answer (TL;DR)
Withdrawing from skill games apps is a simple process of submitting a withdrawal request, choosing a payment method and sending the money. The waiting time can depend on the method chosen, but the quickest can arrive on the same day, via instant bank withdrawals or sped up payment provider intermediaries. Instead of worrying about the process of managing these withdrawals, the more important points are the conditions of withdrawals.
Real money mode in skill games apps has you playing for real money and not virtual currencies or demo credits. Meaning, the money you earn from winning cash games or ranking in tournament leaderboards is legal tender which can be cashed out. However, there may be playthrough conditions on deposits, required verification, added withdrawal charges, and an authorization processing that takes time. Those winnings that you cash out are not tax free either, you will need to declare them just as you would with winnings from a sportsbook or casino, and fill out a Form W-2G.
The basic withdrawal process in 5 steps
Knowing how withdrawals are processed helps you understand what goes on from the moment you request your withdrawal to the moment you receive the money.
1. Payment Authentication
2. Verifying the Withdrawal Eligibility
3. Checking for Potential Taxable Income
4. Authorizing the Payment Gateway
5. Confirming and Sending
Payment requests must be authenticated by you, and this is done by sending an email or SMS OTP to confirm that it is really you. After this, the request is checked for eligibility. They check whether that money is eligible for payouts and not tied to promotional or deposit related playthrough requirements.
ID verification – submitting ID documents or your SSN – is not needed at first but it can be if your winnings are taxable. In the US, the limit is $600 after which any money made via skill games is considered taxable income, where the skill games app will need further ID verification.
A withdrawal payment method must be authorized, unless you use the same method that you used for making a deposit. That means running checks that any credit card is not expired, the banking details match yours, and that the payment provider can send the money to your chosen bank.
After all of this, they can authorize the payment, sending the money and monitoring it until it reaches your account. The first withdrawals usually take longer, but once all the details are confirmed, the platform can authorize and send the withdrawals quicker using that same payment method.
How Withdrawals From Skill Game Apps Usually Work
Skill games apps provide real money games that can either be head to head cash games or use tournament formats. You must deposit money into your gaming account to play these games, paying an entry fee when you start a game. After the game ends, and provided you don’t quit midway or your game cannot be matched in the system, you will get a score based on your performance. This is either measured directly against a matched peer in H2H games, or recorded on a leaderboard in tournaments.
If you beat the other player in H2H, or you rank in a paying place in the leaderboard, you win real money. Provided you clear any deposit requirements, you can then go ahead and request a withdrawal. Each platform has its own rules regarding withdrawals, but the processes are similar. The first time you make a withdrawal request, it will take longer. This is because your payment details must be confirmed, and there may be other procedures to clear like KYC and account matching to your payment details. After that first withdrawal, the process should go a lot smoother and quicker for your next withdrawals.
Cash balance vs bonus/promotional funds
Skill games have two modes, the demo mode where you can play for virtual credits, and the real money mode. These are not like sweepstakes casinos, which only use fun and promotional currencies, with real money prizes for promotional play. Instead, you either play the free mode and never win any real cash, or you play for real money to win real money.
Your cash balance can be topped up through deposits, and you use this to buy entry fees to H2H cash games or real money tournaments. Provided you beat the competition – be it one person or a pool of players in a tournament – you will get paid out. The winnings are paid out in real cash, and added to your cash balance. There are deposit requirements, typically requiring you to roll over any deposited money once for it to become eligible for withdrawals. But after that, you should be able to withdraw your winnings.
Skill games can also have promotional funds, through deposit related bonuses or loyalty programs. These are not exchangeable for cash or eligible for withdrawals. You have to use the bonuses, for example to buy an entry into a tournament or cash game, and then if there are no wagering requirements, you can cash out any winnings it makes.
What You May Need Before You Can Cash Out
Skill games for real money are legal in most states, and the age requirement to play any of these games is 18+ unless specifically stated otherwise in state legislation or on a specific skill games platform. When requesting withdrawals, these conditions must be checked, it is something you agree to when signing up and accepting the Terms and Conditions.
When requesting a withdrawal, your details and account are quickly checked, before the skill games app heads on to authorize the payment method and send your money. Any missing data or mismatches in your account will be requested when you submit your withdrawal request, but you can speed this up by checking that everything is in order before making that request.
Identity verification and account checks
Skill games apps do not need your ID (SSN, ID card, passport, etc), until your winnings can be considered taxable income. Just because you are not asked to verify your ID when you sign up, doesn’t mean you won’t need to at all. But it does mean that ID verification may not be asked from you until that point when your winnings exceed the $600 threshold – at some sites.
Otherwise, you will need to verify your:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Mailing address
- Phone number and/or email address
Skill games need to verify your ID to ensure that you are of legal age to play the real money games, and that you aren’t using a duplicate account, or using someone else’s details. This is a KYC procedure, and it is handled swiftly with an ID verification and potentially requires a mailing address.
Another crucial detail is your contact information. This can be used to authenticate payouts – so if you haven’t verified your phone number or email address, they cannot authenticate your withdrawal request.
How the verification is processed and when it is asked of you depends on the platform. But if you don’t do it manually when signing up, you can expect to be hit with a verification request before making bigger withdrawals or after making multiple withdrawals. You only need to do it once.
Withdrawal methods and account matching
Withdrawal methods vary based on the platform. The most common ways withdrawals are handled are via bank transfers, gift cards, and eWallets. The most straightforward way to transfer withdrawals is to use the same method you used to deposit funds into your account as the details are already confirmed and the platform does not need to make additional checks. However, if you used a prepaid card or any other method that cannot take withdrawals, you will have to choose an alternate method to manage your withdrawals.
When choosing a withdrawal method (other than the method you used for a deposit), you must enter the bank or wallet information. If there are any mismatches here, such as you sending money to a wallet that is not registered with your name, or sending money to a bank outside the US, this can flag up in the system. Your payment details must be authorized, otherwise the platform cannot send you the money. You can avoid running into these glitches and hiccups by ensuring that your payment information, mailing address and ID details all check out, and don’t require additional verification or investigation.
Step-by-Step: How to Withdraw From a Skill Game App
The steps to withdrawing may differ slightly from app to app, as may the payment options, limits, and internal processing times needed to authorize your withdrawals. But the procedures of withdrawing are mostly uniform.
Skill games apps need to verify your account eligibility, confirm payment details, and check the conditions for the withdrawal, as per the terms of service.
Step 1 – Review the app’s withdrawal rules
Before requesting a withdrawal, especially for first-time withdrawals or when you change your payment gateway, it is always best to quickly assess withdrawal conditions.
For first time withdrawals, check for any missing verification or information on your gaming account. You may need to verify your ID, confirm a mailing address, or verify your phone number/email address to be able to withdraw.
Otherwise, if you have made your first withdrawal, your account should be fine, and then the area you have to check is your new payment gateway.
Step 2 – Make sure your account details match
To ensure there is no fraud or money-laundering, you can’t use someone else’s banking details to execute transfers – deposits or withdrawals. This is an area that can delay the withdrawal process, and if you cannot verify your banking detail than you may have to find an alternative method.
The name and mailing address you have registered on your account cannot be different from the bank account details you provide for withdrawals.
Step 3 – Submit your redemption request correctly
Skill games apps typically have withdrawal rules that relate to the money you want to withdraw, and the limits that the payment gateway allows.
A 1x playthrough is very common, to ensure you are not engaging in fraudulent financial schemes, and are actually using the platform in the way it is intended. Make sure you clear that 1x rollover, or other playthrough requirement.
Next, when filling out the redemption request then pick a method and submit an amount that falls within the limits. If you request an amount lower than the allowed minimum threshold, your request may be denied or you may be asked to use another method.
Request a limit too high, and after review you may receive alternative options such as payment in instalments or partial withdrawals.
Step 4 – Watch for follow-up requests
After you submit your withdrawal request, there is nothing left for you to do. In the best case scenario, your details are easily verifiable, there are no discrepancies or errors, and following a brief processing time your withdrawal will be sent through.
Though there may be follow up requests if you have not completed account verification, didn’t submit a mailing address, have not confirmed your eligibility (18+ and in legal state).
These details, and any others, can be requested in follow up communications. You will receive your withdrawal, but you just need to fill out the security and KYC protocols to ensure the site is compliant.
Step 5 – Wait for processing and confirmation
Do those steps beforehand and your withdrawal should head straight to the authorization processes. After checking everything is in order, your withdrawal request will be greenlit, the payment will be sent, and you have to wait for your bank to confirm the payment.
The follow ups are just an extra step you have to take when making your first withdrawal – or if any gaming account/payment details change. Unless you move to another state or change your bank/eWallet, you only need to fill in the follow ups once, and all further payments made on that payment gateway will be sent straight to the authorization team.
Most Common Skill Games Withdrawal Methods
Credit Cards
The most popular method for making deposits and requesting withdrawals through are credit cards. Commonly, skill games apps will accept US bank cards including VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and others.
Bank Payment Processors
Third party intermediaries like Apple Pay can be used for deposits, but there may be alternate payment processors to manage bank transfer withdrawals. These include AeroPayz or other services offering Instant Bank Transfers.
Gift Cards
An alternative is to request withdrawals in the form of gift cards, where they are offered. This is faster, highly secure, and doesn’t have to go through many of the same steps for real money withdrawals. However, gift cards have limitations too, limited to affiliated vendors or minimum/maximum withdrawal thresholds.
EWallets
Web wallets like PayPal are common at skill games apps, subject to the same withdrawal conditions and criterion as credit card or third party payment processors for bank transfers.
Checks
Common for US skill games apps, checks may be sent via post to players as a means to settle withdrawal requests that are lower or higher than the allowed thresholds. They are an option that skill games apps offer to US players who don’t have other withdrawal options (such as using a deposit-only method to top up their account, and don’t select any of the other methods to make a withdrawal).
Why Skill Game Withdrawals Get Delayed
Withdrawal delays can happen sporadically because of random technical glitches such as overloaded servers, temporary site maintenance, buggy apps or internal processing issues.
These cannot be avoided, but they have nothing to do with you so once the issue is handled you should get your payout with no further question.
Otherwise, and perhaps most commonly, withdrawals are delayed because of mismatches in the info you provide, or missing data that is needed for the site to authorize any payouts.
Verification or account review issues
Mismatches, incomplete account verification or account review issues are all the most likely causes for your withdrawal delay.
Mismatching issues can likely occur when:
- Your payment details don’t have the same data (name/address)
- Credit cards have expired
Account verification refers to the personal data that is needed for the skill games app to determine that you are eligible to play and not breaching any laws. Though it can also relate to verifying contact information, such as your phone number or email. A lot of apps use these to confirm and authenticate withdrawals.
- Check your phone number/email is verified
- Your name, DoB and mailing address are submitted and there are no mistakes
- Your location services are turned on and you are in a legal state
Method, threshold, or support delays
The payment methods supplied vary between apps. There are skill games platforms that allow you to pick an alternate method for withdrawals than what you used for deposits. Others use a closed loop payment system where you can only withdraw to that card or account – given this is allowed.
Then, you must observe thresholds and payout eligibility. You cannot exceed a max threshold or request a payout under the minimum limit. These may be accepted, but then further verification and possibly additional fees may be charged.
Support delays can postpone withdrawals, this is a technical issue that you cannot do much about. It may be an overloaded server, with more players requesting withdrawals or asking questions from the support team. This will be directly addressed by the operator, and your request will not be canceled or forgotten – they just need more time to settle it.
Tips for Smoother Withdrawals
While you can’t change the internal processing workflow or the authorization requirements, you can tick off a few boxes to make your withdrawals run a little smoother. A little preparation can help you avoid running into those common withdrawal delay issues, and you won’t have to wait for follow up requests or prompts.
Verify your account early
When signing up, it is always best to quickly tick off the account verification steps in one go. Don’t leave this right to the last minute, but instead confirm your email address or phone number, update your account personal details, and add any payment methods ahead of time so you have this all in check.
If your phone number changes, you move state, your bank card expires or you want to use another payment method – update these quickly so there can be no errors later.
Pick the same method for deposits and withdrawals
Where possible, choose a deposit method that also works for withdrawals. A credit card that you use a lot will do, or an eWallet or bank account that you actively use. Prepaid cards and payment intermediaries like Apple Pay or other third party providers may not be able to handle withdrawals, and this slows the process down considerably.
Observe playthrough requirements
Your skill games app will show you how much of your money you can withdraw. A 1x playthrough requirement is the common standard here, to ensure you aren’t just using the skill games app to hide or hold money. It is most evident when you have money on your account, but are just short of a payment minimum limit and want to top up your account just enough to reach that limit and cash out. You can’t, as that deposited money must be used. Instead, reach out for the possibility of a lower payment, or don’t cash out that money.
Double check for information mismatches
Most errors are not intentional and are caused by minor hiccups. Such as using your nickname instead of a full name that is registered on a bank card. Or for married individuals, using their maiden name instead of their new legal name, which may be registered on a bank card or eWallet. Double check these, don’t skip out a middle name or abbreviate a name that is used in the banking details – these must completely match for no errors to flag up in the system.
Don't change details too regularly
You may change your details when you move states, change your phone number, pick an alternate payment gateway or even decide to use an alternate email address. It doesn’t happen often for most, and where you can avoid updating your information too often you should. Otherwise, if you move states or change phone numbers often, then it is better to only update your information prior to when you want to make the withdrawals, and not at every possible instance. Don’t overcomplicate the verification team and KYC/AML personnel, as regular updates can look dodgy and raise suspicion.
First-time withdrawals always take longer
When you change your payment details, this needs to be confirmed and verified. What’s more, even after this there is a transfer of funds but this has to be carefully monitored. If the information is wrong, the platform needs to cancel the transfer and reclaim the funds before it can send the money to you. This won’t happen after you have used the withdrawal method, as they can confirm it is you on the other end and send the money in the confidence that you will receive it. First time transfers always take that little bit longer, before they are authorized (after the payment is settled), and then greenlit for future withdrawals.
FAQs
What are the most common methods to withdraw at skill games apps?
Most skill games apps accept credit card payments, prepaid cards and various eWallets such as Venmo or PayPal. Withdrawals can be managed through the same method you chose for deposits, or an alternate method that is authorized by the operator.
Why is most withdrawal delayed at a skill games app?
Delays most often occur because your account details are not complete, there is a mismatch in your account details and your payment method, or your payment method has not yet been confirmed.
Do I need to verify my account to make withdrawals at skill games apps?
When you sign up at a skill games app you are requested to submit your name, address, and contact information. The contact info, such as a phone number or email address, are needed to authenticate any withdrawals you make.
Do skill games apps need my SSN to authorize withdrawals?
Skill games sites do not need your SSN unless your winnings become declarable. Then, they will need to supply you with a Form W-2G and request your SSN. This is to make sure the site is compliant with Federal and State tax duties, and doesn't allow tax withholding across its services.
Are skill games withdrawals taxed?
Yes, if you exceed $600 you will need to report your winnings to the IRS with a Form W-2G. There may also be state taxes or conditions that you must observe too, which is why skill games apps may request your SSN and verify your ID to avoid withholding tax.
Author: Daniel Craymer
Updated:
