MasterCard Debit in UK Casinos

There's no point denying the popularity of gambling in the UK; the country offers one of the most well-established gambling markets, running for ages, really. And even though many changes to the laws have been made throughout the years, including the credit card ban, players still have plenty of payment methods to use for their online gambling transactions, and safe solutions to use, among which the most popular and most available is the MasterCard Debit. Ever since the ban was put in effect, UK players have been choosing this debit card over any other solution to use for their deposits and withdrawals. In case you wish to try it out yourself, continue reading to find out more about it. What is MasterCard Debit and why select it as your payment method at a UK online casino?

Online Gambling Regulation in the United Kingdom

Given how rich the history of gambling is in the United Kingdom, one cannot be really surprised to learn that the industry is running smoothly in the country to this day. It was first legalized in 1928 when King George V was sitting on the throne, so it is safe to say that the UK has one of the longest-running gambling markets in the world, too. In our time, even Queen Elizabeth II was known to enjoy placing a bet or two, especially on horse racing betting. The industry, of course, is fully controlled, and duly regulated, to provide all citizens with a fair and safe gambling environment.

Knowing this, you should not be too surprised to learn that once gambling went online, the UK was among the first countries in the world to embrace it. The official regulatory framework was introduced in 2005, and around the same time, the previous Gaming Board of Great Britain was replaced with the current UK Gambling Commission as the regulatory body. The UKGC, if you're an avid gambler, needs no formal introduction, as this is one of the most well-known and well-respected regulators in the online gambling industry in general. Known to introduce some of the toughest measures for safer and fairer gambling, the UKGC has made a name for itself, one operators and players fear alike. Nothing can escape UKGC’s eye: all irregularities are noticed and acted upon.

In charge of licensing, supervising, monitoring, and punishing operators, the UKGC is a symbol of strictness. Nothing goes by without the watchdog noticing it, and that's why you can see it in action at all times. The regulator continues introducing new rules and protocols operators must respect, but the most significant move it made was in 2019 when it announced that it is considering a full credit card ban for gambling. First, a three-month restriction was in talks, but by the end of the year, the decision was final: the UKGC banned credit cards for online gambling purposes. This was one of many measures the regulator introduced to lower the addiction rate and make the industry safer for everyone.

In the meantime, the government continues collaborating with the regulator in the introduction of new laws. In the beginning of 2023, the government was to tighten regulation even further, and in the months that followed new rules boosting safety and consumer choice were introduced. The UKGC made sure all of these new rules and laws were being properly followed by operators and continued raiding, fining, and suspending the licenses of operators who disobeyed them.

So, it goes without saying that, as a UK player, you will get a completely safe and fair online gambling environment to enjoy. Operators who hold a license from the UKGC are constantly monitored and cannot wrong you in any way unnoticed and unpunished. Therefore, you can rest assured that all of the legal verticals, horse racing betting, lotteries, online casino gambling, arcades, slot machines, and bingo will be at your disposal across the sites at your disposal.

The only thing to focus on is choosing a proper online casino to join, one that will give you the option to use a payment solution that has nothing to do with credit cards. And while there are great alternative banking options, most UK players choose debit cards over any other method. More precisely, they go with MasterCard Debit, and for many reasons.

This is a globally-known and used debit card, delivered by MasterCard nonetheless, one of the world's most well-respected card brands. Not only is it easy to get started with and use for seamless transactions in your local currency, the UK pound, but it is also unbelievably popular across UK casinos. You will have no difficulties whatsoever with your deposits and withdrawals should you choose it over any other option and in the following section, you’ll learn why. 

Using MasterCard Debit Across UK Online Casinos

Of all the payment methods available in the world, MasterCard and its direct competitor VISA are certainly the most well-known, without a doubt. You can see their logos one next to another displayed at local shops, cafeterias, restaurants, and eCommerce sites everywhere around you. That's because these are leading card brands that have shown over and over again why they are the very best in the financial scene. Their cards are known as the safest and most reliable out there, offered by virtually all banks in the world.

MasterCard’s story began in 1966, when the United California Bank, Bank of California, Crocker National Bank, and Wells Fargo decided to create a charge card called Master Charge Card, to be used only by their customers, and form a type of a card network these users would enjoy. Soon after, though, after it proved to be a great success, the card got users from more than 25,000 other banks and financial institutions. Its popularity continued increasing by the minute, and that's why eventually it turned into a credit card and went international.

The credit card functioned spectacularly but proved to be unsuitable for a certain base of users. Those with bad credit history were unable to get their credit card, so MasterCard reacted quickly and in 1979, it launched the MasterCard Debit card. To get this card, users' history was not reviewed, but they couldn't spend more than what was in their bank account, as opposed to with the credit card, where upon an agreement with the bank, they could get loans. This was more than fine for many, and that's why the card was an instant hit with all those users who wished to have a bank account and a card to use, even though their credit history was not stellar.

MasterCard Debit got a significant boost in popularity in the UK when the credit card ban was introduced by the UK Gambling Commission. Players immediately turned to the debit card, as cards were and are, after all these years and after all these alternative banking methods available, still their favorite payment method. So, if you’re a UK player, you are probably considering using this debit card as well. If that’s so, here’s what you need to do to get started with it.

First, visit your bank or its official website, to fill out an application form. Many banks nowadays allow online card applications, so check whether yours does, too, or just visit the bank in person to apply for your card. You will find your personal card on the list of cards to apply for on the form; select the debit card. Then, provide the mandatory personal details and offer an ID document, of course, to verify your identity. Your application will, then, be processed by the bank and submitted to MasterCard to be duly designed. On the application form, also, select whether you’d want the card to arrive via mail to your home address or dropped at the bank for you to pick it up.

Regardless of the way you choose to receive it, you will get it in an envelope with several authentication and verification codes needed for future actions with the card. Have them in a safe place where nobody can see them, as you won’t be able to use your card properly without them. Now, assuming you’re all equipped and ready to start using it, continue reading to find out how deposits and withdrawals with MasterCard Debit are being made. 

Deposits and Withdrawals with MasterCard Debit

Here at WoO, you’ll be pleased to know that there are over 230 online casino sites that accept UK players and offer MasterCard Debit. Lucky Hippo, FreshBet and LeoVegas are just some options you could consider, but rest assured that you’ll find plenty of other eligible sites to check out.

Please do, and whenever you find the site you’d like to frequent, register a player account with it. To fund your account with MasterCard Debit, go through these easy steps:

1. Visit the Payment Methods/Banking page on your registered player account.
2. Find the section with Deposit Methods and locate MasterCard’s logo on it.
3. After you press it, a pop-up will appear where you need to enter the amount you want to deposit.
4. You'll be instructed to fill out the empty fields with card details: name, expiry date, number, and CCV2 number if required.
5. Confirm the transaction and authenticate it and in an instant, the funds will reach your balance.

Given the fact your MasterCard Debit is a bank-issued card, it goes without saying that withdrawals with it are also possible. Transactions with it go from and to your bank account, so you can rest assured that you can use it for cashouts.

You'll just have to go through the same steps we just described, with two major differences. You will need to select the debit card from the Withdrawal Methods offered and then specify how much you want to withdraw. Now, the operator will take a few hours, not more than 48, to fully check out and approve your request, but once that's done, the money will reach your card, hence your bank account, in an instant.

Conclusion

Considering the credit card gambling ban in your country, as a UK player, you should certainly consider using MasterCard Debit as your payment method. It allows you to make deposits and withdrawals in GBP, and it is extremely easy to use. Not to forget that it is insanely available, offered across most, if not all, UK online casinos.