Online poker provider Pokerstars has come up with an imaginative new way for Mexican poker fans to fund their accounts, announcing that it has inked an agreement with Oxxo, one of the nation’s largest and most widespread convenience store chains with over 13,000 outlets.
One of the hurdles facing operators in Mexico is a restrictive banking sector through which many local players do not have access to online banking options or credit cards.
Using the basic Ukash coupons concept as a baseline, Pokerstars has found a way to answer this challenge.
In a combination of online and physical activity, players select the Oxxo deposit tab in their Pokerstars accounts and enter the size of the deposit. They receive an Oxxo coupon code which must be printed out and taken to an Oxxo convenience store within three days, along with the cash they wish to deposit. The deposit will then be reflected in their Pokerstars account within a business day, and can be used to play.
Whilst not as quick and paper-free as systems deployed by major online gambling groups and the Seven 11 chain north of the Mexican border, it does give Mexican players another way to fund their accounts in an environment where online poker will hopefully soon be more legally available.