Play Real Money Online Poker with Your MasterCard
Depending on where you are located, depositing at online poker sites can be either very easy – or can require some ‘creative’ effort.
Fortunately, MasterCard works for both US and International poker fans.
This page takes you through the best MasterCard Poker sites and how to get your deposit through. Some of the information is common to all locations. The rest (sites and alternatives) is separated for US, Canadian and International players. This same information works for casinos and for sports betting fans – though my focus is on those sites which offer online poker.
The table below shows you my main picks for MasterCard deposits for the US, Canada and… well, pretty much the rest of the world. You’ll also see some of the most popular alternatives listed here.
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► Poker Sites Welcoming MasterCard
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WORLDWIDE REC |
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MasterCard Poker Deposits for US Players
You can use your MasterCard legally as an individual at one of the big offshore poker sites. What you’ll find is that the banks try to stop these transactions. This is a result of the UIGEA laws passed more than 10 years ago. From your perspective, the transaction simply gets declined.
The way around this is to make an international cash payment. Most cards work for international purchases by default, though some do not. The poker sites will use different ‘payment gateways’ to get your deposit through. Sometimes this will fail – though most of the time your deposit will get through.
If you deposit with a MasterCard and it gets declined, then make sure you do not give up. Getting your money on board can be as easy as trying again later in the day. Use live chat (or a toll-free number) to chat with the cashier staff at your site. These people deal with payment processing every day, and are experts in this area.
If your own MasterCard does not work out – here are your main alternatives:
Prepaid MasterCard: I’ll include Visa in this section, since the brand is less important than the result. These are the types of card you pick up at a gas station or convenience store. I strongly recommend that you chat with the cashier staff at your site before you buy – they will be able to advise on the brands working best.
Bitcoin: Very much mainstream deposit method these days, and nothing like as volatile as the mainstream press would have you believe. Once you set up and fund a wallet, you’ll be able to use it for both deposits and withdrawals.
Western Union / MoneyGram: These giant networks will not wire your money to poker sites. What you’ll do instead is wire the cash to a named individual. Your poker site will give you the name / details. This sounds a little odd, though it has become established as a reliable deposit option over the years.
Best Site for MasterCard Deposits from the US
BetOnline have a long track record of fast payouts and easy deposits. This brand started out in Sports betting, and has since expanded to become the 2nd biggest offshore poker room (behind the newer Ignition Poker). They are the main site on the Chico Poker Network.
There are plenty of good reasons why BetOnline are my top rec. Very soft games (lots of cross over from the sportsbook), and a long list of player promos are the main features.
Check out those soft games for yourself now at www.betonline.ag
MasterCard Deposits for Canadian Players
Canadian poker fans have a right to be frustrated by MasterCard. There is no legal reason why Canadian players should be prevented from depositing directly – though the banks block transactions a lot of the time. This is a spill-over effect from the US laws.
Fortunately, there are some good solutions – some of them unique to Canada.
Interac: There are no restrictions to using Interac, you simply get the receivers info from your poker site and then mail the cash via your bank. Fixed fees and the added security make this a popular option.
InstaDebit: This is a 3rd party service which acts like a secure bridge between your bank account and the poker sites. Your bank is paying InstaDebit, from where the funds are forwarded to your bank.
There are other options, including prepaid Visa / MasterCards, Bitcoin (at the offshore sites) and PaySafeCard. I have covered these in more depth on my detailed Canadian Poker Deposit Methods page
Best Site for MasterCard Deposits for Canadian Players
Whether you can get your MasterCard through, or need to use an alternative – 888 Poker is an easy top pick. This site has shot up the rankings, and offers seriously ‘fishy’ games compared to (for example) PokerStars. Their software is smart, and you’ll find innovations like ‘Blaze’ poker too.
New players get $88 free play to check out the real money games before even making a deposit. You can still claim your deposit bonus at any point down the line.
Check out the fishy games at 888Poker for yourself now at www.888poker.com
MasterCard Deposits for UK / European / Worldwide Players
In most of the world, your MasterCard deposit will get through first time, no fuss at all.
You’ll also have a wider choice of sites, and alternatives if you do not have a MasterCard of your own. These include virtual MasterCards, which are offered via EcoPayz or EntroPay. There are also prepaid vouchers, eWallets (think PayPal, Neteller or Skrill) and local bank transfers too.
Best MasterCard Poker Site for Worldwide Players
I’m sticking with the same rec as for Canada – 888 Poker – and for exactly the same reasons. These are smart software, innovations and soft games. 888 focus on recreational play, and their tables are not ‘grinder-heavy’ like elsewhere. The free play is available around the world too. This is $88 (in $8 increments) in most countries, with £20 in the UK.
You can still get your 100% welcome bonus at any point down the line if you like what you see.
Check out the soft games for yourself now at www.888poker.com
Withdrawing from Poker Sites via MasterCard
This will be a short section – the answer is that you can’t do it.
This is the same for all locations.
As always, there are solutions. Which withdrawal method you use once again depends on your location. In the US the default is a paper check, often couriered to your door. Banks process these without any questions. Canadians can use InstaDebit in addition. Worldwide the first alternative is a local bank transfer, though eWallets are also allowed. You will often be restricted to methods you have deposited with previously.
A final shout out for Bitcoin (for US readers in particular). If you have deposited with this, then you can also use it for withdrawals.
More Poker Payment Method Articles:
- Poker Deposit Safety Guide
- Bitcoin Poker Deposits
- US Poker Deposit Options Guide
- WebMoney Poker Sites