Question about Gambling websites with Curaçao license using incorrect Merchant Category code (page 787)

From a Mastercard Live Chat - also available in multiple other sources including Merchant terms and conditions.

Yes, in Mastercard terms and conditions, a special category is required to accept gambling payments.

Specifically, gambling merchants are identified by Merchant Category Code (MCC) 7995: Lottery, Betting, and Gambling. This MCC is used for a variety of gambling operations, including:

* Casinos (physical and online)

* Sports betting operations

* Lottery operators

* Racetracks

* Online bingo platforms

Mastercard, along with other payment networks, uses MCCs to categorize transactions, manage risk, and ensure compliance with regulations. Businesses operating under high-risk MCCs like 7995 often face stricter scrutiny, higher processing fees, and specific requirements to prevent fraud and comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

Furthermore, Mastercard has specific rules regarding gambling transactions, including:

* Payment of Winnings (POW): Mastercard has a dedicated "Payment of Winnings" stand-alone credit specifically for gambling merchants to pay game winnings to customers. This is restricted to merchants under MCC 7995.

* Credit Card Restrictions: In many jurisdictions (like the UK), the use of credit cards for gambling transactions is prohibited. Mastercard's rules and various regulations aim to prevent such transactions.

* Merchant Location and Licensing: Merchants must only acquire payments within their licensed "area of use" and hold all necessary licenses and permits to conduct their business in that country.

* No Mis-coding: Mastercard actively monitors and penalizes merchants who attempt to mis-code gambling transactions under non-gambling MCCs to circumvent restrictions.

In essence, while Mastercard facilitates gambling payments, it does so under stringent conditions, requiring specific categorization and adherence to various rules to manage the associated risks and regulatory requirements.

Well, I have filed a complaint and many chats with Revolut that change versions. Let's see if the Bank of Spain can help me a little. It's not about the payment authorization but about the use of the incorrect MCC and what it entails.

I've searched but I can't really find anything.

What businesses appear to you?

LocLd / itslocld - ?

AND

Printiso-printisodigital?

Cnpcto / Coinpacto

Edbost

Bitsent

Artfin

Zyph

E0000348

Triers-London

OnIngo-london

Trndbm-cardiff

Pxthn-london

Inovocom-ruislip - ?

BYTBLM*LAB - cryptowaveco?

fluenfs

vivexcoin - ?

artfin

SKC*AROMA

SIKCNTVK

jpfever.com - Birkirkara appears as a casino but I have never registered there.

I advise you to search the magnifying glass at the top of this forum, one by one each business, and you will be able to find information from other users who have contributed.

I added my own information to the email and I came directly from the email address they have for me.

Ahhh, yeah. I have all the T&C's and the chargeback guidance, but it's those actual, magic words that I need directly from Mastercard, to prove my point.

I've been down the road of all of those points from the T&C's with my bank but they (and the Ombudsman) are of the opinion that because the funds eventually ended up being used for gambling, they are gambling transactions.

This quote neutralises that argument completely.

Sadly, I've not been able to find either a live chat for Mastercard or get a meaning response through Social Media.

Thank you btw, I forgot to add that.

If there's any advice or anything you can offer me to underline that point, then you can always email me....

I've searched but I don't see anything or I can't find it, but thanks for the help

Hi

appreciate this was a while ago 😂

did you win the dispute with Faqsolutions or did they try and object,

Hi Paul

how do you find out the processor merchant bank for Apple Pay transactions

as starling are saying they are not to blame even though they knew miscoded MCC codes as the merchant bank decides and completes due diligence not them

Hi mate im not sure mine were all on card not apple pay

Says this its a separate processor in USA..

Did you get anywhere with Starling?

William - what bank was this and what was the situation?

I would like to know this also please winnerdude

You won't. They're a bunch of C Units.

I've had terrible problems with them. Routes I've tried with them.......

1) I've got a gambling block on - 'Sorry mate, they might be gambling transactions but the MCC is wrong, so there's nothing we could have done'

2) Oh, so these aren't gambling transactions then? 'Sorry mate, they definitely are. We've investigated them using special techniques we can't tell you about but we KNOW they are gambling merchants'

3) OK, so can we charge these back as goods not recieved then, as I never received any goods or services from these companies? - 'Sorry mate, no we can't - see last reply'

4) Hi, these are some goods I ordered, but I never received them, can you please charge them back. I have evidence of the companies not supplying the goods and failing to communicate with me? - 'Yes mate, course we can'.................... Several days later............... 'Sorry mate, was wrong. We've investigated these transactions and they are DEFINITELY gambling merchants and not what you claimed, so no chargebacks'

5) Hi, I can see you've blocked some payments to a company called 'XXXXXXXXX' and the reason for the decline is that I have a gambling block on my card. Does this mean you now block all of these rogue merchants? - 'No, sorry mate. We just go through some transactions in a half arsed manner and randomly block some of them, then let them through, then block them again. Also, we never did any of that, don't know what you're talking about?'

6) So you can track this money from my account, through the 3rd party and tell me where it was eventually deposited? In that case you know the casino is a scam and I never had a chance of winning, so technically, this isn't gambling. So can we get my money back now? - 'Nah, sorry mate'

7) Can you tell me the casino I deposited at then? - 'Nah mate, that's top secret information. Also, how we find out is top secret too, we definitely don't just google the merchants and find out that way, oh no.'

8.) 'Mate, please stop bothering us, we can't be arsed to help you. Yes, even though you've provided clear evidence of the scam, faked transactions, that another Client bank that uses MasterCard has succesfully charged back transactions like these and they were supported by Mastercard etc. Take it to the Ombudsman. Oh, and here are some patronising links to safer gambling sites. Now off you Fuck'

So that's where I am up to. First complaint about to go to Ombudsman after Investigator sided with bank. I just need to produce a few extra bits of evidence first. Then if I win, I'll lodge my second complaint.

In the interim, I'm writing a complaint to MasterCard UK and if it's not resolved, I will then take that to the Ombudsman.

This is why, I need the source and evidence of the quote from the chap above about transactions only being classed as gambling, if they are coded as such.

With that evidence, the defence that all banks that use Mastercard use, falls apart. IF, and it's a big IF, I can then get the Ombudsman to side with me, it will set a precedent that would see everyone here get their money back from Mastercard banks.

So, if anyone has any advice or evidence they can provide, with sources, then please let me know. I'd prefer to do it over email if possible.

Thanks in advance

I have contacted Mastercard to see what their perspective is on what casinos that use merchants are doing. I will keep you updated on their response.

Nope, that's why I've put a complaint in to FOS.