What is Mastercard?
Mastercard is a payment processor network, the second largest in the world after Visa. It partners with major banks and financial institutions to offer free and easy-to-use cards. When you use a bank or financial service partnered with Mastercard, you’ll receive one of its branded debit, credit, or prepaid cards.
Taking money out of ATMs, making purchases in shops, and completing payments online are all possible with a Mastercard. Because the service is so widely used, it’s accepted by almost every service imaginable, including online sportsbooks.
How Does Mastercard Work?
To use the payment network, you simply need to own a Mastercard. Getting one is as easy as opening a bank account. If you’re applying for a Mastercard credit card, you’ll need to complete a credit check. Still, the process is straightforward, and once you receive your card, you’ll be able to use it to make fast and simple payments.
Mastercard is accepted almost everywhere online, and completing a payment just requires your card details. Here’s the online payment process shortened:
- Register and check that it is accepted
- Enter your card details
- Confirm your payment and complete verification if necessary
You can also use your Mastercard to receive money online. If you want to accept a withdrawal from your online sportsbook account, you can arrange for it to be credited to your card. The funds will be sent to you, allowing you to spend them however you want.
The Advantage of Using Mastercard for Betting
Mastercard is an extremely popular payment service because it offers a lot of great advantages. Many people prefer to use it over other payment methods. Here are just some of the reasons why it’s so popular:
Highly Secure Payments
Security is a major factor to consider when making payments, especially online. When using licensed and trusted sportsbooks, it’s less of a concern, but you still want to make sure your payments are secure and your funds are protected.
The card employs lots of security features to keep your money safe. Identity-checking processes are used to confirm payments, and the fraud detection team flags any potential cases for review. This ensures that only you can make payments with your card.
Excellent Reputation
The company first launched in the 1960s as Master Charge, though it would later become MasterCard in 1979. Since then, it’s established itself as a leading payment network processor with an excellent reputation. This is backed up by its high levels of customer satisfaction.
Customers find Mastercard easy to use. It is widely accepted and highly secure, which are also big factors in its popularity. The network has a great reputation among banks, financial services, and vendors too, which is why it’s one of the most widely used payment services in the world.
Widely Accepted
Our research shows that all legal US sportsbooks accept payments using Mastercard, and most support Mastercard withdrawals as well. It’s one of the most used payment processing networks in the world, second only to Visa.
This means that sportsbooks that don’t accept it would be missing out. When you use a Mastercard, you can relax knowing you don’t have to sign up to any alternative payment methods. This makes it so much simpler and quicker than other options.
Free to Use
Although the Mastercard network charges fees, these are covered by the card issuer or the merchant. In other words, cardholders can use their card as much as they like without needing to worry about fees.
Whether you’re using your Mastercard in a shop or depositing funds to your online sportsbook account, it’s completely free. This is a big advantage over some other payment methods and the reason why the card is one of the most popular options.
High Limits
When you’re making deposits online, you don’t want to have to face restrictions on how much you can add to your account or how much you can spend. The card has high spending limits, so you don’t need to worry about not being able to add enough.
You can make big deposits using your Mastercard, so you’ll be able to claim all the top sports betting promos. Some sites may have an option to set up deposit limits if you want to reduce your spending, though.
Drawbacks of Mastercard Sports Betting
While Mastercard is clearly one of the most popular options for sports betting, that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its drawbacks. Here are the main issues that some users have with it:
| Disadvantage | Explanation |
| Withdrawal time | While Mastercard deposits are instant, you need to wait a bit longer for your withdrawal to process. In most cases, you can typically expect to wait around 3-5 days before the funds will be in your account. |
| Card details | Some users don’t like the fact that you need to enter your card details when making payments with Mastercard. While it’s still perfectly safe to use, some prefer to use other methods for this reason. |
Security
Although you need to enter your card details to use Mastercard when making payments, it’s still incredibly safe to use. This is because the payment network uses lots of different security features to protect your funds and prevent fraud. This means you can make easy, stress-free payments and not have to worry. Here are a few of the different features used to keep your money safe:
Identify Verification
The identity verification check is used on all purchases made using your Mastercard. The system compares new purchases to your spending habits and flags potential fraudulent payments. Instead of simply freezing your card, the system asks you to verify your identity. This is done by sending you a one-time password to your registered device or asking you to complete a biometric scan. Either way, it ensures that your card can only be used by you.
End-to-End Encryption
Encryption is one of the most important features used by payment processing networks. This ensures that your card details are secure when you make payments online. When you enter your card details, they’re encrypted before being sent, ensuring that they cannot be read by anyone. The system confirms the card details, and if you save them to your account, they’re still encrypted.
Fraud Detection Team
The fraud detection team works in tandem with the identity verification feature to ensure potential instances of fraud are flagged. This is active 24/7, every single day of the year, so you never have to worry about your card details being used by unauthorized people. If you suspect fraudulent activity, you can call your bank or card issuer and have your card frozen.
Payment Notifications
If you use a banking app with your Mastercard, this feature is easy to set up. You’ll get notifications for every purchase made using your card, helping you stay on top of your finances. With payment notifications, it’s easy to review each payment as it happens, and you can quickly contact your bank if there’s a payment you don’t recognize. This way, your money is safe even if your card details are somehow compromised.
Mastercard Betting Promos
All of our recommended Mastercard sportsbooks feature betting promos. These special offers help make your betting experience more enjoyable, and claiming them is a great way to get extra value out of your bets, too.
There are lots of different promos available to its users. Here are some of the most popular:
| Bonus Type | Example | Explanation |
| Matched deposit bonus | 100% bonus up to $500 | Your deposit is matched up to a certain value. |
| Risk-free bet | $250 risk-free bet | Your first bet is refunded if it loses, with your stake returned as bet credits up to a certain value. |
| Free bet credits | $100 in bet credits/free bets | You can use these bet credits in place of real money, keeping any winnings made. |
| Odds boosts | Odds boosted from +200 to +300 | Odds changed by a percentage or amount to give you a better deal |
| Loyalty rewards | Earn free bets and cashback for betting | You earn points by placing wagers and can exchange these points for bonuses. |
Common Mastercard Bonus Terms
Betting promos are usually easy to claim. However, we always recommend reading through the full terms and conditions before you do. These terms are designed to stop you from simply extracting free money out of the site, although that’s not to say that there isn’t still value in each offer.
Here are some of the standard bonus terms you’re likely to come across:
| Bonus Terms | Example | Explanation |
| Payment method | Payments made using XXX won’t unlock the bonus | In some cases, the sportsbook will require you to use a specific payment method to trigger the bonus. |
| Wagering requirement/rollover | 5x wagering | The number of times you need to wager the bonus before you can withdraw it or any winnings. |
| Minimum deposit | $20 minimum deposit | The minimum amount you must deposit to unlock the bonus. |
| Minimum bet | $10 minimum bet | The minimum amount you must bet to unlock the bonus. |
| Minimum odds | -150 | The minimum odds at which you must bet to unlock the bonus. |
A Guide to Betting with Mastercard
Using Mastercard to bet is incredibly easy. The card is simple to use, and according to our data, it’s accepted at every major US sportsbook. To help you get started, all you need to do is follow this guide our experts have written up for you.
How to Get Mastercard
Mastercard offers credit, debit, and prepaid cards. These are provided by a bank or card issuer, and applying is as simple as contacting your branch and opening an account. If you have a checking account or credit card, the chances are you already own a Mastercard. If not, getting one is very simple. Just complete these easy steps to get your card:
- Contact the bank or card issuer to open an application
- Complete the forms and agree to any terms and conditions
- If it’s a credit card, you’ll need to complete a credit check too
- Wait for your application to be approved and your card to be posted to you
Once you complete the application and agree to the terms, you’ll have to wait a few days for your physical card to arrive. However, most card issues now give you a virtual card straight away so you can instantly make online payments.
How to Join a Mastercard Sportsbook
Once you have your Mastercard debit or credit card ready to go, you can sign up to a sportsbook and start betting. This is a lot easier than you might think. There are just a few quick steps to follow:
- Visit one of the best-rated Mastercard sportsbooks
- Register your account with your personal details
- Read through the terms and conditions and agree to them
- Verify your new account using your ID
How to Make Deposits Using Mastercard
Now you have an account active, you’re almost ready to place your first bet. First, you need to make a deposit. Follow these steps to complete it:
- Log into your account and find the cashier page
- Choose Mastercard from the available payment options
- Enter the amount you’d like to deposit
- Make sure the amount is enough to claim the bonus offer
- Link your card details to your account
- Complete any verification if needed and confirm the payment
How to Make a Withdrawal Using Mastercard
Withdrawals are really easy as well. When you want to cash out any of the funds in your account, just complete the following:
- Log into your account
- Open the cashier page and choose the withdrawal option
- Choose Mastercard from the options
- Enter the amount you want to withdraw
- Confirm your card details are correct
- Wait for the sportsbook to process your request
You should note that in some cases, sportsbooks may not always accept Mastercard withdrawals, even if they accept deposits. In this case, your withdrawal may need to be sent as a bank transfer instead.
Mastercard Betting FAQ
What is Mastercard?
Mastercard is the second-most widely used payment network in the world. It issues cards to banks, which can then be used to withdraw cash, make purchases, and complete online transactions. It’s connected to your bank, and you can either pay using credit or debit.
How can I use Mastercard to make deposits?
Yes, Mastercard is extremely popular, and as a result, it’s widely accepted by online sportsbooks. You can use it to add funds to your betting account, with the money instantly available once you confirm the payment. Check to see if your sportsbook accepts it before you try to make a deposit.
Is it safe to use Mastercard online?
Mastercard is extremely safe to use, both for in-person and online payments. It processes millions of online transactions every day and uses a number of key security features to keep your money safe. Provided you use a licensed and trusted sportsbook, you can make deposits without having to worry.
Can I use Mastercard to withdraw funds from my sportsbook account?
Yes, Mastercard processes withdrawals too. If you’ve already made a deposit using the card, you’ll be able to cash out any funds using this payment method. Withdrawals are simple to set up, although you may need to wait some time for it to be processed.
Are there fees when using Mastercard?
Using Mastercard is almost always free. The only time you may be charged is if you make a payment using a different currency. When it comes to depositing and withdrawing funds at licensed US sportsbooks, you won’t have to worry about charges.
How long does it take for my Mastercard withdrawal to arrive?
Withdrawals using a Mastercard credit or debit card can take between three and five working days to clear. The payment network needs to process your request, and the money will then be sent to your card.
Can I claim sportsbook promos using Mastercard deposits?
Yes, if you’re using a sportsbook that accepts Mastercard, you’ll be able to use it to claim your betting promos. Be sure to read through all of the terms and conditions, then follow the instructions to unlock your rewards.
Sources
Author
Tom Edlin is a senior author and contributor to SportsbookPromo.com. He's been writing and reporting on the US sports betting industry for years and has crafted hundreds of in-depth reviews and guides.
Chris Williams is a senior editor and fact checker at SportsbookPromo.com. He's been active within the US sports betting industry for over five years and has edited and fact checked hundreds of articles.