US Poker Sites Accepting MasterCard Deposits

Nearly all online poker sites accept payments and deposits from all major credit cards, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to use your MasterCard on all US poker sites. Since the adoption of UIGEA and subsequent law enforcement action based on its regulations, many credit card processors are wary of processing payments made via U.S. based MasterCard accounts. The ability to process your MasterCard payment varies among the many US poker sites, and often depends upon which bank issued your MasterCard. In general, if your MasterCard is accepted internationally, it will probably be accepted at most US player poker sites.

The Problem with MasterCard and US Player Poker Rooms

MasterCard is accepted in more than 200 countries and processes more than a trillion dollars’ worth of purchases and monetary transactions every year. Any poker room that accepts credit card payments will accept MasterCard payments. The problem lies with the bank at the other end. Some banks will process gambling transactions. Others will not process transactions that have a high rate of chargebacks or that are illegal in their state of incorporation.

For 4 years after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006, most US banks continued to process payments to US poker sites. In June 2010, though, U.S. law enforcement took action against a number of US poker sites and the banks sat up and took notice. Since then, it has become more and more difficult for US players to find US player poker sites that can process their MasterCard payments. That said, there are a number of US player poker rooms that have a high rate of success in processing MasterCard payments for US players.

What to Do If Your MasterCard is Declined by US Poker Sites

If your MasterCard deposit is declined, don’t panic. While many players have no problems making deposits to their accounts via MasterCard, payments are declined often enough that US player poker sites offer many other options for US players to fund their accounts, generally through third-party payment processors like eWallet and MoneyBookers. Third party payment accounts offer an additional perk for US players who sometimes wait weeks to receive a payout check for their winnings in US poker sites: many US poker player sites allow you to withdraw your winnings to your eWallet account where you can access it much sooner.

If you continue to have trouble funding your account at U.S. poker sites, there is one more option available to you: call or contact customer service at the poker room. CS at most US player poker rooms are friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. They’ll get you up and running and ready to play in no time.