Online casinos try to offer multiple payment methods to serve as many potential users as possible. After all, no one wants the hassle of having to use a payment method they’re not used to just to use one site or app. And when a payment method is already universally accepted, why bother making the switch in the first place?
However, using Mastercard at an online casino isn’t going to be the same as using it on Amazon or Steam. For anyone looking forward to using an online casino for the first time, here’s everything you need to know to use a Mastercard at one.
Find a reputable, licensed casino
The first step is arguably the most important, as it will save you a lot of potential headaches: finding a licensed online casino that follows laws and regulations. Licensed casinos are much more trustworthy than their unlicensed counterparts for several reasons.
Licensed casinos are far less likely to involve you in any trouble. Unlicensed casinos aren’t inherently criminal; they just don’t have the evidence to prove they reliably obey the law. This means they are more susceptible to instances of cyberattacks, hacks, ID theft, and fraud. In these instances, information pertaining to your Mastercard account could be compromised.
Since Mastercard is by far one of the most popular payment methods out there, you can easily stumble across an unlicensed online casino that accepts it. To remain safe, don’t look at the compatible payment methods to see if an online casino accepts it; instead, look for reviews to see if it is licensed, if no such info can be found on their official website.
In other words, you should only ever use online casinos accepting Mastercard that are properly regulated and certified. Regulated sites are safe to use, trustworthy, and of course, they typically accept Mastercard.
Create an account
The next step is to create an account with your online casino of choice, assuming it is properly licensed and accepts Mastercard. Since Mastercard is a very popular choice, this should be of little issue.
Though the process can vary slightly from casino to casino, creating an account usually involves the same steps. You’ll have to provide an email address and create a password. Usually, it’s that simple.
In many cases, you will be asked to undergo extra verification steps. This usually involves taking a photograph of your driver’s license or government ID and sending it to the casino. This is a safe process, assuming the online casino is licensed. This step is required in many regions as an anti-money laundering measure.
Overall, most online casino registrations are quick and simple, so you should have an account ready within minutes.
Make an initial deposit with Mastercard
Your account needs to be verified before you can start making wagers. Even if it were automatically verified, your account will probably have no playable balance yet. This is where your Mastercard finally comes in handy.
While logged into your online casino account, navigate to your payments or cash tab. From here, you will be able to make a deposit from your bank to your casino account via Mastercard.
Keep in mind that all online casinos have minimum deposit rules, meaning you must deposit a certain sum and cannot go below it. For example, if your casino’s minimum deposit is $10, you must deposit $10 or more; $9.99 and anything below that will not be accepted.
Once the money has been deposited, you will then be allowed to start playing games.
How to make withdrawals from online casinos with Mastercard
Withdrawals work very similarly to deposits when it comes to Mastercard. All you need to do is navigate to your account’s payment page, select withdrawal, and then choose your preferred method.
It should be noted that many online casinos have different options for deposits than they do for withdrawals. This means that some methods can only work as deposits and not for withdrawals, or vice versa. Fortunately, because Mastercard is one of the most popular methods, it is very likely that the online casino you select will support Mastercard for both.
Withdrawals do take longer to be processed than deposits. While most deposits are instant, Mastercard online casino withdrawals will typically take one to three business days.
If your online casino also accepts cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Litecoin, it is probably familiar with blockchain technology and has more experience handling faster processing times than other online casinos.
Extra tips and advice
Though Mastercard is great as a primary payment method, many online casino enthusiasts have a secondary option as a precaution. You could benefit from seeking out another payment method to have in your back pocket just in case Mastercard ends up feeling lacking at some point.
For example, Mastercard offers many great benefits like warranty protection, but these things hardly come in handy when it comes to online gambling or online gaming in general. Outside of specific welcome offers or promotions targeting Mastercard users, there are few benefits to be had.
Consider adopting a secondary payment method that can better handle anything messy, like hidden fees or regional locks. Mastercard is convenient as it is very commonplace, but it is not necessarily the most efficient when it comes to time or the most economical with conversion rates.
Another great tip is to use Mastercard solely for making deposits but to withdraw the money with a faster payment method, as well as one with smaller fees. Such options include popular e-wallets like PayPal or Skrill, or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are not only completely anonymous but have instant payout speeds as well. This may not be an option at some online casinos that require the same method to be used for both deposits and withdrawals.
Lastly, if you do your online gambling on mobile devices, be sure to install the relevant mobile Mastercard banking app on your phone or tablet. This will make payments to the online casino a lot faster and more convenient.
