Mastercard is a major force in the global payment sector, and it provides an array of financial services to a plethora of businesses—including online gambling sites. Its strong data analytics and stringent security protocols have made Mastercard one of the most sought-after payment methods among Canadians for their gambling activities.
Punters can make Mastercard payments via its credit, debit or prepaid cards. So, below, we will discuss how Mastercard betting sites work, its security features, alongside top Canadian operators that support this payment method.
Every Mastercard sports betting site we suggest goes through a strict vetting process to ensure our readers access fair, secure and enjoyable gambling platforms. We assess various indicators that any site must possess, so let’s briefly walk you through our grading process.
Licence & Security
Beyond the security features implemented by Mastercard itself, we pay close attention to the bookmaker’s legal status and the safeguards provided. We prioritize online sports betting sites with a domestic licence, such as the AGCO, but internationally licensed sports betting sites that accept Mastercard are also welcome—as long as they implement stringent encryption security features and have a legitimate gambling licence, like Curacao.
Betting Markets & Odds
The cornerstone of each Mastercard betting site should be the available betting markets and the associated odds. With seven Canadian teams playing in the NHL, top bookmakers prioritize ice hockey betting, but we dive deeper into the available markets for more niche sports like lacrosse, soccer, football, basketball, and baseball.
Mastercard Transaction Limits
Betting sites that accept Mastercard will have different deposit and withdrawal limits, so that is the next step of our reviewing process. Some operators are inherently more suitable for high-rollers, while others will be more accommodating to bettors on a budget. As such, we base our recommendations on these factors, so that our readers can find a more suitable and personalized online betting site.
Sports Bonuses and Promotions
Finally, ongoing promotions are often perceived as the best way for bettors to prolong their sports betting adventure and explore more betting markets. Our team of experts pays close attention to how versatile the offers at a sportsbook are—whether they suit more newbies or seasoned bettors, alongside reviewing bonus terms and conditions to have a clearer picture of offers’ true value.
Customer Support
Customer support is often a neglected factor in sportsbook reviews, but our experts always emphasise its true value to a bettor. The best Mastercard betting sites offer a robust 24/7 support team that is available via multiple channels—email and live chat are the most used ones. In addition, a site will have bonus points if it has a comprehensive FAQ section that covers common issues encountered by bettors.
Mobile Use
About 90% of the Canadian population uses a smartphone, with data penetration level being admirably high as well. This leads us to one conclusion—mobile sports betting apps are on the rise and are the new frontier in the industry. As such, our list of suggested sites only includes mobile-friendly operators—some of which offer special mobile bonuses to their users.
What You Should Know About Mastercard
Mastercard is a payment network that essentially works as the link between the card issuer for your card, your bank, and the retailer—in this case, the online sportsbook. For every betting transaction you make, there are different banks involved—yours and the operator’s.
Before registering at online sports betting sites that accept Mastercard, you need to know that there are different types of cards the payment network offers:
Credit cards
Debit cards
Prepaid cards
Mastercard doesn’t charge any annual fees to its users, while its interchange rates are generally paid by acquirers to Mastercard card issuers. Nevertheless, note that depending on the bank and the type of credit card you get from Mastercard, you may be due to pay an annual percentage rate that can go up to 27.99% based on your creditworthiness.
Mastercard Betting in Canada
Each province in Canada has its own gambling laws and legal age (which varies between 18 and 19). Where online gambling is allowed, you will generally be able to use Mastercard as your payment method for deposits and withdrawals, but there are a couple of nuances to note.
For starters, credit card providers in Canada who don’t block credit card use on gambling transactions may classify your deposits as “cash advance”, meaning that you will be subject to additional fees.
Moreover, certain banks in Canada—such as Scotia Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toronto Dominion Bank clearly state in their terms and conditions that they will not authorize payments to internet gambling establishments with your card.
How to Deposit With Mastercard
Now that you know what online betting sites accept Mastercard and the key features surrounding them, you might feel like it is time for you to start your online betting journey. To explore the perks of sports betting sites, we suggest you go through the depositing process, which is intuitive and fast. Here are the steps you need to follow.
Get a Mastercard Card: Before you set your sights on a betting site, you must choose the type of your card between a credit card, a debit card, or a prepaid card. The timeframe to receive the card will vary from one bank to another.
Register at a Mastercard Betting Site: Fill out a registration form containing information such as your name, email address, province, number, etc. Note that you might need to verify your ID/email/phone number straight after creating your betting account.
Initiate the Deposit: Initiate the transaction from the “Cashier” or “Deposit” section of your newly-created account. Choose Mastercard from the list of payment methods and enter card-specific information, which includes your card number, full name, and CVV number. Enter the amount to deposit and confirm the transaction.
Check Your Balance & Bet: The funds should instantly arrive at the betting platform, after which, you will be free to use them to place bets on your favourite sports.
How to Withdraw With Mastercard
Before requesting a withdrawal, note that not all online betting sites that accept Mastercard will accept payouts. Check the payment policy or the general terms and conditions to see whether you can use Mastercard for withdrawals. If Mastercard is on the list of options, here is a step-by-step withdrawal guide to follow.
Clear Wagering Requirements & Verify Your Account: If you have claimed your welcome bonus at the online sportsbook, you must complete the wagering requirements before withdrawing. In addition, most sportsbooks will ask you to complete account verification before your first withdrawal.
Head to Cashier & Choose Mastercard: The list of payment methods available for withdrawals will now appear once again, after which you will need to choose Mastercard.
Enter Your Card Details & Amount: If you haven’t saved your card details previously, enter them again in the specified field, alongside the amount you wish to withdraw—per the withdrawal limits imposed by the sports betting site.
Wait for the Money to Arrive: The operator may take some time toreview your withdrawal request, before releasing the funds to your payment method. Then, as there are banks involved in the process, it may take a couple of days for the money to reach its destination.
Mastercard Betting Bonuses
At the core of every Canadian using a sports betting app are the dynamic sports bonuses that have a dual purpose—attract new and retain the already existing bettors. There are no Mastercard restrictions on claiming bonuses, so you can expect all your qualifying deposits to make you eligible for a promotion.
So, here are the most common types of offers you will encounter at each Mastercard online betting site from our list:
Welcome Bonus
Sports bettors will be eligible for a welcome bonus the moment they register and make their first qualifying deposit on the site. This is a type of offer that usually comes in the form of a free bet or a deposit match bonus that will provide extra bonus money to your account.
Reload Bonus
This is a promotional offer at sports betting sites Mastercard that is crafted for bettors who have already made one or several deposits on the site. Such an offer can come in the form of a daily or weekly bonus and it serves well to boost your bankroll while playing.
Free Bets
A free bet bonus is one of the most sought-after types of promotions at top sports betting sites that accept Mastercard. A free bet is designed to give Canadian bettors a chance to place a bet without risking their money, as the bookie will cover the stake. If your bet wins, the winnings are all yours. Free bets can also be obtained on live betting markets.
Cashback Bonus
This is a type of sports betting offer that legal sports betting sites in Canada offer players a chance to recoup some of the incurred net losses over a predetermined period. Depending on the sports betting site, the cashback money may arrive in the form of bonus credits or withdrawable cash.
Combo Boost
A dynamic promotion offered for many sports in sportsbooks that is designed to increase the payout of the accumulator bets. Depending on the sports betting site, it will offer a bonus percentage on top of your potential winnings—the more events you include in your betslip, the higher the percentage will be.
Enhanced Odds
Bookmakers often offer enhanced odds on a special selection of sports betting markets on their homepage. Of course, such promotions are time-limited, so do make sure to constantly check the corresponding section.
Early Payout
Some sports betting sites that take Mastercard will offer early payouts for events before the final result is known. For example, if the team you backed goes three goals ahead, the selection will instantly be marked as won.
VIP Bonuses
As part of the VIP program designed by the sports betting site, you will be due to receive various personalized VIP bonuses and promotions. Free bets, birthday bonuses and reload packages are some of the offers to look forward to—which can increase in value, depending on your VIP status.
Betting Bonuses Terms and Conditions
Although bonuses can be an enticing tool for bettors to enhance their gambling experience at betting sites that use Mastercard, they always come with stringent rules you must follow in the form of terms and conditions. Each promotion will have its own set of terms, but here are some common ones that can help you understand the true value of an offer:
Wagering requirements: For many, the value of a bonus at an online sports betting site is determined through its wagering requirements. They specify the number of times you must play through the bonus funds before you can request a withdrawal.
Duration: Bonuses at sites that accept Mastercard debit and credit cards will specify how much time you have to complete the wagering requirements.
Minimum deposit: Most bonuses you will encounter at Mastercard sports betting sites will require you to make a qualifying deposit before you can claim it.
Minimum odds: You must place bets on events with predetermined minimum odds per event, otherwise, they won’t count towards the wagering requirements.
Sports: Certain promotions will target specific sports, so make sure to read the terms and conditions to understand where and how you can use the offer.
Safety and Security
Mastercard offers multi-layered security protocols that safeguard you against unauthorized transactions. For you to have more confidence in using Mastercard for your betting experience, here are a few security features offered by the payment network:
ID Theft Protection: This is a tool that alerts you to possible ID theft by even monitoring the dark and deep web. It searches for compromised credentials and possibly a damaging use of your personal information shared with Mastercard.
Click to Pay: You can store your Mastercard in Click to Pay so you can make sports betting transactions without having to type in payment details all the time. Just find the Click to Pay Mastercard logo and you can use this feature. Using Click to Pay will allow you to enjoy robust security features such as sophisticated bot detection, encrypted payment information and protection against fraud.
Liability Protection: Thanks to Zero Liability Protection, you won’t be held accountable for unauthorized transactions. This feature applies to all your online purchases, and as a cardholder, even your bank may have a zero liability policy to protect you.
Banking app security: The bank that has issued your Mastercard will use additional security mechanisms to protect you against unauthorized transactions. 2FA is a common practice for mobile banking apps, as are One-Time Codes whenever you make a transaction. You will either need to enable these features on the app itself or they may even be integrated right from the start.
Description
Details
Security Features
ID Theft Protection, Click to Pay, Zero Liability, 2FA
Account Registration Required
Yes
KYC
Yes
External Integration
Yes
Pros and Cons of Mastercard Online Sportsbooks
Although wagering on top Mastercard betting sites comes with a few distinct advantages, before you register at one of the featured sites, you must know about some of their downsides.
Pros
Secure SSL encryption for online transactions
Accepted across CA sportsbooks
Fast deposits
Always eligible for bonuses and promos
Cons
Possible restrictions from CA banks
Not always available for payouts
Safe and Convenient Mastercard Transactions on CA Betting Sites
Mastercard’s journey in the increasingly saturated world of payment methods used for online betting has been nothing short of impressive. Over the past couple of decades, Mastercard has emerged as a leading sports betting option for deposits and withdrawals through its security commitment and the ability to adapt to customer demands.
Its role as a facilitator of smooth, safe and fast transactions is crucial to all Canadian sports bettors—regardless of their experience level.
So, now that you are armed with all this knowledge, you can proceed with choosing a site from our curated list of top Mastercard sportsbooks. Register and make a deposit—per the instructions above and enjoy all the perks that come with gambling with this payment provider.
Alternatives to Mastercard Sportsbooks
Mastercard is just one option among a sea of local and global payment solutions for Canadian sports bettors. Bettors have varying preferences, so if you are looking for something other than Mastercard, here are a few viable alternatives.
Not all online sportsbooks in Canada offer Mastercard withdrawals. Before you register, check out the payment terms of the operator to get acquainted with such policies.
The list of bet offers at Canadian bookmakers that accept Mastercard can be quite vast and it varies depending on the operator’s strategy. Some common offers you will encounter include welcome offers, reload bonuses, free bets, comboboosts, and early payouts.
Most online sportsbooks in Canada won’t charge you any additional fees on your transactions but do make sure to once again check the payment policies. On the other side, note that you may be due some annual percentage rates by the credit card issuer.
Deposits clear almost instantly, but note that withdrawals may take a few days to complete – mostly due to the internal withdrawal request verification policy by the operator.
Using your Mastercard for betting online will allow you to enjoy advanced encryption features, as well as policies such as zero liability. Through the latter, you won’t be held accountable for any unauthorized transaction.
The range of sports at the best Mastercard includes popular sports such as ice hockey, soccer, basketball, baseball, cricket, as well as niche options like table tennis, boxing, and esports. Extensive pre-match and live betting markets are available, with some reputable bookmakers also offering live streaming.
