A stored value card is a card that have pre-loaded amount of money that can be used to pay off purchased goods or services up to the amount that the card is pre-loaded with. They are very similar to a debit card except that they do need to open any account with the card provider.
The usage of this card is also anonymous. The value that is stored in the card can be accessed by reading the magnetic bar that is embedded to the card or by radio-frequency identification or by entering the code number which is printed on the card.
Once the stored value in the card is exhausted the card then can be discarded. Some card may have the function for the user to replenish the value in the card.
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stored_value_card
