Absolute Poker Adds MoneyGram

Absolute Poker has added another deposit method for U.S. customers, this time introducing MoneyGram. MoneyGram is a money transfer service similar to Western Union, with approximately 100,000 branch locations in 170 countries.

In order to deposit using MoneyGram, you must first go to the Absolute Poker cashier and select it as a deposit option to read the special instructions. It is not as simple as entering a dollar amount in a text field. With MoneyGram, you must travel to a physical branch to hand over cash and fill out a form with Absolute Poker’s information. This information is given in the cashier. Upon completion of the transaction, you will receive an eight digit confirmation number, which you then must enter at the Absolute Poker cashier.

MoneyGram also allows customers to make payments online, but Absolute Poker does not give separate instructions for this.

The fees are not bad if you send enough money. From the U.S. to Costa Rica, where Absolute Poker is located, costs $9.99 for up to $1,000. Absolute says that transfers up to $899 will not require I.D. Transfers from $3,000 to $5,000 will require I.D., birth date, and social security number.

Early reports from customers are that while having to drive to a local MoneyGram location takes more time than simply doing a quick EFT, it is relatively painless. Popular branch locations are at Wal-Mart stores. MoneyGram has a branch locator on its website, http://www.moneygram.com.

Originally published 12:16 AM Tuesday, March 20, 2007