To be honest, checks feel like something from the Jurassic era. In 10, 20 years, not many people will pull out their checkbooks when they want to buy something or pay their bills.

Credit cards and online payments are just much more convenient.

This was what I thought until I realized that more and more people actually use checks when they make deposits at poker sites. But nowadays checks come in a modernized version, and just like mail has become eMail, checks have become eChecks.

E checks look like the regular checks your grandfather signs when he's at the grocery store stocking up on prunes, canned meat and Polident. The only difference is that everything is handled online and the money is debited directly from your checking account.

This results in a much faster payment process.

But the best aspect of eChecks - at least from a US poker player's viewpoint - is that poker sites often allow this payment method.

In our poker-payment guide you'll find a list of all US poker sites that accept eChecks together with all other payment options Americans are allowed to use.