As they are widely accepted, cardholders can use them in a large number of brick-and-mortar and online stores, restaurants and other retailers. Most online casinos also work with Mastercard and patrons can easily deposit funds to their gaming accounts using this payment method. The company does not issue credit and debit cards, however. Instead, they are issued by banks and international financial groups. As a result, casino players do not have to apply for a card in Mastercard but in their local bank office.
- How Mastercard Works
- Mastercard Credit
- Mastercard Debit
- Mastercard Prepaid
- Masterpass
- Using Mastercard at Online Casinos
- Funding Your Casino Account
- Withdrawing Funds to Mastercard
- Mastercard on Mobile
- Security
- Advantages of Mastercard
- Disadvantages of Mastercard
Along with the traditional credit cards, the company also offers debit cards, as well as prepaid and travel cards. When it comes to the safety of their customers’ funds, Mastercard has taken a range of security measures against fraud, identity and card theft, and other risks associated with card payments. In addition, casino deposits via these cards are instantaneous, so patrons can start playing for real money immediately.
Those who decide to use their Mastercard for online gambling would need to take one more thing into consideration – the financial services provider has very restrictive rules for processing transactions from gambling merchants. As a result, many online casinos would not allow withdrawals to be made to Mastercard.
The company also owns Maestro, a brand of debit cards popular in Europe, South America, Asia, and the United States. Many online casinos that accept Mastercard would also process Maestro payments.
Top MasterCard Casinos
How Mastercard Works
Similarly to other credit and debit cards, Mastercard processes payments between the bank and credit accounts of its cardholders and the bank accounts of merchants. The company offers several types of cards and once you receive one of them, you can use it to pay for utility bills, goods, and services, as well as to withdraw cash or make online payments.
Today, the network of banks, merchants, and ATMs working with Mastercard and its brands has expanded to almost every corner of the world. Each card comes with its individual number, expiration date, and security code. Most cards also have a PIN attached to them – this is a four-digit secret number known only by the customers and entered when making in-person purchases or ATMs withdrawals. The Card Validation Code or CVC2, on the other hand, is the security code of the card, used in online payments.
Depending on the card issuer, usually a bank, Mastercard-branded cards have different fees, limits, reward, and cash back programs.
Mastercard Credit
The payment processor offers three main types of cards, namely credit, debit, and prepaid cards. In order to receive a Mastercard-branded credit card, you need to apply for it at a local bank or another card issuer. Once you are given a line of credit, it is linked with your credit card and with every purchase you make, you collect a debt. You are required to repay that credit once a month, along with a certain fee, depending on your country of residence and bank.
There are three levels of Mastercard Credit – Standard, Mastercard World, and World Elite. These credit cards are a very convenient alternative to cash payments and allow customers to make a purchase and pay later. This could pose a risk for gamblers, however, especially for those who are less attentive and disciplined in managing their finances. For many casino players, debit cards are a much better option.
Mastercard Debit
This is a typical debit card, which is linked to the bank/checking account of the customer. Once you apply for it at your bank, you will receive it within a week and will have instant access to the funds in your account. You can use the Mastercard Debit card just like cash – at various local stores and merchants, at restaurants, ATMs, etc.
Of course, you can use it for online shopping and gambling, as well. The main difference between the debit and the credit card is that with Mastercard Debit, you spend only the money you have available. This is particularly useful in online gambling – this type of card helps with your bankroll management. There are three types of debit cards, as well, Standard, Enhanced and World Debit.
Mastercard Prepaid
Mastercard also offers its customers prepaid cards, as well as prepaid gift and travel cards, which can be used as one-time gift vouchers or as reloadable cash cards. They are easy to get as there is no bank account or credit check required. You can have your paycheck sent directly to your Mastercard Prepaid card, while the funds in it can be used for shopping, paying bills or depositing into online casinos.
Masterpass
Masterpass is Mastercard’s digital wallet, available to users with one of several types of credit or debit cards – Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, and Diners Club International. Residents of around 35 countries can currently sign up for the e-wallet. The list of supported countries and territories include Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, China, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Italy, Japan, Norway, and others.
This is much more than a regular e-wallet – with Masterpass, you can pay in-store by contactless transfers, online or in apps. To get it, you need to visit the official website of the service, enter your email or mobile number, and then, fill up your credit card information. The last step is to provide a billing address and choose a password. In order to use the service at checkouts, you need to install the Masterpass app from Google Play to your phone. The app allows you to shop quickly, securely and conveniently at thousands of brick-and-mortar stores around the world.
Using Mastercard at Online Casinos
Mastercard is an extremely popular deposit method at online casinos because transactions from it are processed immediately. The card is easy to use and besides, most casino players have already used at several credit or debit cards of this brand and are perfectly familiar with the interface of the payment platform. It is not available as an option in all casinos, however, especially if they are tailored to US-based customers.
Due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA), casino deposits from Mastercard may be declined. This inconvenience happens occasionally to players from the United States as the legislation prohibits banks and other financial institutions from handling payments to gambling merchants. The ban is the reason for another, a much more common disadvantage of Mastercard – that most casinos do not pay out winnings to these cards.
Funding Your Casino Account with Mastercard
Those who decide to make a casino deposit via Mastercard should find no difficulties as long as the online casino accepts these cards as a payment method. To fund your gaming balance, you need to sign into your casino account and the Banking/Cashier page of the casino site. There, you will find a complete list of all deposit and withdrawal methods available. You will need to opt for Mastercard or simply credit/debit card and enter the amount of cash you wish to deposit.
The casino would require basic card details such as the card number, expiration date, and the CVC2 code, as well as your name. Once you confirm the transaction, the deposit will immediately show up in your casino balance and you will be able to play for real money. On occasions, the deposit may take up to an hour, depending on the particular casino.
There may also be a fee, although most gaming sites process deposits for free. Casinos may add a surcharge that is typically between 1.5% and 3% for deposits made with Mastercard Credit. There will be no surcharge with Mastercard-branded debit and prepaid cards. When it comes to the minimum and maximum amounts of money you can deposit per transaction, the limits usually depend on the casino. Still, you will not be able to transfer less than $10 using Mastercard, while usually, the maximum limit is $4,000 per transaction. Typically, transactions over $2,000 require verification of the user’s identity.
One important thing to note is that when using credit or debit cards, including Mastercard, casino players should provide the same personal information that is on the card. In other words, if the name of the cardholder is different from the name of the user account, the transaction would be blocked.
Withdrawing Funds to Mastercard
As explained above, Mastercard is not usually available for withdrawals of casino winnings because the company has a very restrictive policy regarding gambling. It does allow card payments to and from gaming merchants but only if they are regulated and taxed in the United States. In case, you cannot cash out your winnings to your Mastercard, you need to consider alternative options like digital wallets, courier checks, etc.
Some online casinos, however, have found a way to circumvent this ban – instead of listing the transaction as a “gaming transaction”, they categorize it as e-commerce. This clever scheme may allow you to deposit and then withdraw your winnings to a Mastercard-branded card. The process is basically the same as the deposit via Mastercard – you need to enter the card number, the CVC2 code, as well as the month and the year when your card is due to expire.
Once you confirm the withdrawal, the funds will be available in your card within 3 to 5 business days. Certain fees also apply. Usually, the fee would be around 2.5% of the transferred amount, but you need to check the rules of the casino for any additional information. Each transaction would come with some limits, determined by the casino.
There are a few other things casino players should remember. First of all, gaming sites would put the withdrawal in a pending status for a period of 12 to 72 hours. During this time, patrons have the option to cancel the payment and continue to play with the money. Another factor that would probably delay your first withdrawal from a particular casino is the verification process. Most casinos verify the identity of their patrons before paying them out by requiring documents such as a copy of an ID (passport, driver’s license) and a copy of a utility bill, which acts as a proof of the physical address of the user.
Mastercard on Mobile
There are several different ways to use Mastercard on a mobile device as the company has developed multiple products, each serving a specific purpose. Not all, however, can be used for casino deposits. There are several apps, for instance, which are for Mastercard events and conferences, as well as an application, which uses a fingerprint scan or facial recognition to authenticate user accounts during purchases with Mastercard SecureCode.
The best option for those looking to deposit money into their casino accounts is the Masterpass app, which is available only to Android devices. This is a mobile e-wallet, which allows you to make instant online payments from your mobile phone or tablet. You can also use it in apps, including in casino apps, where you can deposit easily and securely. In addition, the Masterpass app is an ideal solution for instant, contactless payments in thousands of stores and restaurants.
This functionality, however, is available only to customers whose cards have been issued by certain participating banks. These include Ally Bank, Associated Bank, Bank of the West, Central Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, People’s United Bank, Security Service Federal Credit Union, US Bank, and Virginia Credit Union.
Another app offered by Mastercard is the Qkr!, which works with a Masterpass account and allows users to find participating merchants near them. Most importantly, with this app, you can pre-order food and drinks, pay for them and receive receipts.
Security
As Mastercard is one of the largest credit card companies in the world, security should be among its paramount priorities. Moreover, credit card fraud has been a serious threat in most parts of the world. For this reason, the company has taken multiple measures to improve the security of its cards and to prevent unauthorized access to cardholders’ funds. This includes a sophisticated chip technology, namely the EMV Chip Cards that were introduced just a few years ago, as well as the new ID Theft Alert system, available to users in the United States.
The system detects whether your personal information is bought or sold online, whether that is the credit/debit card details or your driver’s license and your Social Security Number. It also provides replacement of credit cards and documents in case your physical wallet is lost or stolen.
You can also take advantage of the Mastercard SecureCode and use it for all kinds of online purchases, including depositing money to your casino account. The SecureCode ensures your transactions will be safe by adding another layer of security. To use it, you need to sign up for the SecureCode on the official website of Mastercard, find your bank and verify your identity. Then, you can create the secret code and use it in every online transaction. However, you should check whether the casino you play at supports SecureCode payments.
Advantages of Mastercard
Casino players who are looking for a reliable and convenient deposit method should certainly consider using Mastercard. This is one of the most recognized credit card brands worldwide and it can be used for almost anything – shopping online and in-store, paying for services, booking hotel rooms and airline tickets, paying utility bills, and many more. Most importantly, the majority of reputable, well-established online casinos also accept deposits from Mastercard.
This payment method also gives you flexibility, as you can choose from credit, debit or prepaid cards. Depending on your needs, credit score and gambling bankroll, you can also opt for a card with higher limits. In fact, most banks and large card issuers offer at least several types of Mastercard or Maestro-branded cards, each coming with different limits, annual and service fees.
The huge international network of the company also means that you can deposit instantly to an offshore casino site via one of these cards. Usually, international money transfers take a long time but with Mastercard, your deposit should be displayed immediately into your balance. Moreover, when using this card brand and taking all necessary security measures, your sensitive data and your funds should be perfectly safe. This includes not sharing credit card information with anyone, enrolling in the Mastercard SecureCode program, and choosing a good, trustworthy casino.
Another advantage of using Mastercard for casino deposits is the opportunity to receive more bonuses. Many casinos offer exclusive deposit bonuses to players who top up their accounts via popular credit and debit cards, most commonly Mastercard and Visa. In addition, when you use your credit or debit card once, the casino will “remember” it, so you will not have to fill in the payment form every single time you deposit.
Disadvantages of Mastercard
Mastercard has several obvious advantages over other payment methods, but it also comes with one big disadvantage that may prompt casino players to choose an alternative. The company restricts payments to gambling merchants, so chances are that you will not be able to withdraw your winnings to a Mastercard-branded card. This is valid for most online casinos but there are still some gambling sites, which would process withdrawals to Mastercard.
This is why casino patrons are advised to check which withdrawal methods are available before they make their first deposit. If you are not careful, you may complete the deposit easily, play with the funds, and once you decide to cash out your winnings, you may have no way of doing that. There is one more thing to consider – always check if there are processing fees imposed by the casino.
Mastercard’s credit, debit, and prepaid cards also come with some fees, but that would depend on the card issuer. You will often find credit and debit card promotions at larger banks that offer reduced transaction fees, no annual and monthly fees, and other perks. If you join their Rewards Program, you may find even more bonuses.
