A Brief Introduction to Mastercard
Founded in 1966, Mastercard is one of the world’s largest payment processing corporations. The company processes payments between the banks of merchants and the banks of customers who use Mastercard-branded debit, credit and prepaid cards. All of which are available to use at US casinos.
Mastercard’s headquarters is in New York. From there, it has a truly global reach — it operates in over 210 countries and territories around the world. Mastercard partners with several major US banks including Bancorp, BMO Harris Bank, Capital One, Chase, and Citi.
Pros and Cons of Mastercard Casinos
Let’s take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of signing up with Mastercard casinos.
Pros
- Availability – Mastercard is an eligible payment option at virtually all US casinos.
- Easy to use – No need to create additional accounts, simply enter your card details and you’re good to go.
- Bonus eligibility – While other payment methods such as e-wallets are often excluded from being used to claim bonuses, you’ll have no such issues with Mastercard deposits.
- Security – Mastercard is one of the largest payment providers in the world and implements anti-fraud and identity check protections.
Cons
- Slow withdrawals – Payouts using a Mastercard bank card often take up to five working days.
- Sharing bank details – You’ll need to share personal bank details when using Mastercard which some casino players prefer not to do.
- Slow set up – While you can save your card details for next time, the initial process can be slower than some other alternatives.
- Slow process to obtain a Mastercard – If you don’t already have a Mastercard debit or credit card, the process of getting one is significantly longer than signing up with an e-wallet, for example.
How We Review the Best Mastercard Casinos
Our expert team considers a range of important criteria when reviewing Mastercard casinos. Only the very best online casinos that tick the following boxes are recommended to our readers.
- Licensing and Safety – We only endorse online casinos that are licensed by reputable regulators. This ensures the site is held to certain standards regarding things like withdrawals and player welfare. Safety is also secured through the use of SSL encryption across the site.
- Bonuses and Promotions – The best Mastercard casinos offer players a lucrative welcome bonus, followed up by regular promotions for existing customers. Everyone has their preferences, but we endeavor to present the strengths and weaknesses of different offers.
- Bonus Terms and Conditions – A large welcome bonus isn’t much use if the wagering terms prevent players withdrawing any winnings. We scour the terms and conditions to pick out player-friendly casinos, and draw your attention to important stipulations like maximum win caps and time limits.
- Games Selection – Size isn’t everything, but a games library filled with thousands of games is often a big plus. That said, even more important is the variety. We like to see all the main casino games covered, different types of slots including newer mechanics like Megaclusters, and a wide range of software providers.
- Fast Payouts – Having to wait around for your cash is never ideal. Whether it’s through Mastercard or an alternative payment method, we assess the likelihood of fast payouts at a given online casino site.
- Mobile Functionality – Top quality mobile functionality is a must, given that so many players choose to spin the reels from their phones. The best Mastercard casinos offer dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android.
- Customer Support – Hopefully you won’t have many problems while playing at Mastercard casinos, but it’s important you can get prompt support should an issue arise. We ensure there are ample customer support streams, whether it be live chat, email, phone or web form.
- Site Design and UX – The best Mastercard casinos are a joy to use — simple to navigate and easy on the eye. A fun and engaging theme doesn’t go amiss, along with practical solutions like a provider search and clear distinction of game categories.
Mastercard Casino Sign Up Bonuses
One of the benefits of Mastercard deposits is that they’re always eligible for claiming casino bonuses. Here are some of the different types of rewards you could pick up.
Matched Deposit Bonus
With a matched deposit bonus, Mastercard casinos will credit you with bonus cash when you add funds to your account. The bonus is based on a stated percentage. For example, a 100% match would effectively double your account credit — if you deposit $20, you’ll receive a $20 bonus to use on the site’s casino games.
Free Spins
Free spins apply exclusively to slot games. They offer an opportunity to spin the reels for free and be in with a chance of winning real money. Free spins are commonly available as part of a welcome bonus, as well as promotions and reward schemes for existing players.
No Deposit Bonus
While most casino bonuses require you to make a deposit, others simply need you to sign up. With a no deposit bonus, the most common rewards are free spins. You won’t receive as many as you would with a deposit bonus, but it’s a great way to try out the games for free.
Low Wagering Bonus
Most welcome bonuses and many promotions for existing players come with wagering terms, which require players to bet a certain amount of their own cash before they can withdraw any winnings from bonuses. A low wagering bonus makes this process a lot more feasible. For casino bonuses, 20x and under is generally considered low. That said, there are also no wagering bonuses out there, and wagering for sportsbooks tends to be much lower as well.
Bonus Terms and Conditions at Mastercard Casinos
As we’ve touched on above, there are always terms and conditions attached to casino bonuses. Many of these T&Cs can be rather restrictive, particularly in terms of securing a real money payout. Here are the main stipulations to be aware of before you sign up and play.
Minimum Deposit
To unlock a deposit bonus, there’ll be a minimum amount you have to pay into your account. This is usually around $10 or $20 — be sure to check what’s required to claim the rewards if you’re depositing for the first time.
Playthrough Requirements
Another term for wagering requirements, playthrough requirements are in place to prevent the casino from losing money from bonuses. To convert any bonus winnings into withdrawable cash, you’ll need to wager a certain amount of your own money. For example, 35x wagering on a $50 bonus would require you to bet a further $1,750 before accessing your bonus winnings — it’s easy to see why offers with no or low wagering requirements are favored by many players.
Time Limits
Time limits apply to multiple stages of the bonus process. Firstly, you have a certain number of days to claim your rewards if they aren’t credited automatically. Secondly, there’ll be a limited amount of time available to play with the free spins or bonus credit you’ve received. And finally, if any playthrough requirements apply, you’ll need to complete these within the stated number of days, or else any winnings will be forfeited.
Game Restrictions
Most casino bonuses only include a small selection of eligible games. This is particularly true of free spins bonuses, which are often available to use on just one selected slot game. Bonus credit claimed from a matched deposit bonus tends to be much more flexible, but either way you should check you’re happy with the games selection before claiming an offer.
Game Contribution
When you’re in the process of fulfilling playthrough requirements, wagers on slot games will typically count in full. However, this usually isn’t the case for table games like blackjack and roulette — often only 10% of the wager will count towards the requirements.
Winnings Caps
Put simply, there is often a maximum amount you can win from a casino bonus. Winnings caps vary significantly between different Mastercard casinos, so it’s important to check before you start playing to avoid any disappointment.
How to Sign Up to a Mastercard Casino
Signing up with one of the best Mastercard online casinos in the USA is a quick and easy process. Follow the steps below to get started.
STEP 1
Pick out a Mastercard casino
Begin by browsing our list of approved sites on this page and use the comparison tools to find one that’s right for you.
STEP 2
Click through to register
Hit the ‘claim bonus’ button to be taken through to the online casino site’s sign up page.
STEP 3
Fill in your details
To create an account, you’ll need to enter basic details such as your name and address, and choose a username and password.
STEP 4
Deposit and play
Now you’re registered, you can top up your account with funds, claim the welcome bonus, and hit the reels.
Casino Games Available at Mastercard Casinos
Once you’ve signed up to a top quality Mastercard casino, you can enjoy a huge variety of different casino games. Here’s a taster of the most popular.
Slots
Have a quick look at an online casino’s games library and you’ll notice that slots are the most prevalent type of game. There’s typically a huge amount of variety, with a seemingly unlimited number of themes being thought up by top software providers. US players have plenty to choose from when it comes to the mechanics of the game too. Progressive jackpot and high volatility slots are suited to those that are attracted to playing for the big time, while low volatility games are ideal for players on smaller budgets looking for slow and steady wins. Be sure to check out the Return to Player (RTP) rate of a game too — 96% is about the average, which means $96 of every $100 wagered is paid back out to players over the lifetime of the slot.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a centuries-old casino game that remains immensely popular in land-based casinos, as well as online. The aim of the game is for your cards to add up to more than the dealer, without exceeding 21. With each turn you have the option to stand or hit — that is, take another card. Some casinos offer the option to surrender and keep half your bet. You may also have the option to double down, where you take another card and double your bet. Split is another choice if you start with two cards of the same value and are happy placing an additional wager — your cards will become two separate hands, with each receiving a second card.
Roulette
Roulette is another iconic table game that is suited to players who enjoy playing on luck, rather than heavy strategy. The roulette wheel is spun with a ball landing on one coloured number. There are multiple ways to bet and win. Outside bets refer to red/black and odd/even, and are paid out 1:1 (evens). Inside bets, meanwhile, are bets on specific number spots, which typically pay out 35 to 1. European roulette features one green zero space, while the American variation has an additional double zero, which increases the house edge from 2.7% to 5.26%,
Craps
The game of craps doesn’t offer as wide a variety as the likes of blackjack and roulette, but it’s loved by fans of the game around the world. Craps is a dice game where you bet on the outcome of the roll. Each round has two main phases: the ‘come out’ and the ‘point’. The come out roll comes first and if the roll adds up to 7 or 11, anyone betting the pass line wins. If it adds up to 2 or 3, players betting the don’t pass line win, while 12 is a push. Any other number becomes the point, which must be rolled again before a 7 to win.
Live Casino Games
If you’re looking for the authentic live casino experience, live dealer games are just for you. Rather than playing an RNG game by yourself, live dealer games are hosted by a real dealer, live streamed from purpose-built studios around the world. You can chat with the dealer and other players while you play, with the game brought to life by multiple HD cameras, offering slow motion replays and much more.
Video Poker
Video poker is based on five-card draw and is played online or on terminals in casinos and pubs. It shares a lot of similarities with slot games, as you’ll be attempting to make a winning combination from randomly drawn cards. But instead of matching symbols, you’ll be trying to line up a winning poker hand. Unlike slots, there is a skill element involved, as you can discard cards and swap them for replacements each turn.
Alternative Fast Payout Methods at Mastercard Casinos
Mastercard is pretty much a prerequisite at US online casinos. If you already hold a Mastercard bank card and are happy using it for casino deposits and withdrawals, you’re sorted. However, at the best Mastercard casinos there will be lots of alternative payment methods available that can offer faster payouts should you want them, along with a range of other benefits.
Visa
For the most part, there is very little difference in the experience of using a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card. Players will have no problem claiming deposit bonuses, and there’s no need to create additional accounts. However, at some US casinos, you can use an option known as Visa Fast Funds. This accelerates the withdrawal process, getting the job done in just a few hours.
PayPal
Another option for accessing fast payouts is to use an e-wallet like PayPal. Withdrawals are generally completed in 1–2 days, and there’s the added benefit of not having to share your sensitive card details with the online casino site. Instead, simply log in with your PayPal details to set up a payment. The downside with e-wallets such as PayPal is they’re often excluded from deposit bonuses.
Skrill
Skrill offers similar benefits to PayPal and is a popular option for online casino players. There are some small fees attached when withdrawing funds from the digital wallet, but it’s free to use for casino deposits and withdrawals. Skrill supports over 40 currencies and offers a VIP club with lower fees, higher limits, invite-only events and 24/7 support in English.
Neteller
Another e-wallet that’s a great alternative to Mastercard is Neteller. Owned by the same company as Skrill, Neteller offers instant deposits and fast withdrawals. Additional perks include the option to use a Net+ Prepaid Mastercard. This allows you to use your Neteller balance anywhere a Mastercard is accepted, whether it be in stores, online, or at an ATM.
Play+
Play+ is another handy alternative that doubles up as a digital wallet and a prepaid card. Top up your Play+ account using a debit or credit card and then transfer these funds to your casino account. You can also use Play+ to process a withdrawal. The prepaid card is free and can be used to spend your Play+ balance anywhere a Discover card is accepted. Funds are held in an FDIC insured bank account.
Cryptocurrencies
Some US online casinos support cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum. Paying with crypto offers benefits such as fast payments and greater anonymity compared to other payment options. However, remember to only play at a licensed online casino site, such as those listed here at Compare.bet.
Compare the Best Mastercard Casinos and Claim Your Bonus
Now you’ve got the lowdown on everything Mastercard casinos have to offer, the benefits of Mastercard payments, and the alternative options at your disposal, you’re ready to sign up and play. Get started by browsing our list of the best Mastercard casinos and use the comparison tools to find one that’s right for you. Once you’re set, click the ‘claim bonus’ button to sign up and claim your welcome bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — in some states. Online casinos are currently legal in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Here at Compare.bet, we only endorse Mastercard casinos that are licensed by approved state regulators. Licensing affords players a degree of protection in terms of any malpractice on the part of the casino. Mastercard casinos also use SSL encryption to protect your personal data. So, if you stick with the sites listed on this page, you’re in safe hands.
Mastercard casino withdrawals typically take up to five working days to process.
Yes, some online casino sites do accept Amex. Check the list of available payment methods at your chosen casino site before you sign up.
This varies between different sites and offers. Typically, players have to deposit $10 or $20 to claim a bonus.
