Best Maestro Casinos in 2024

Information about Maestro casinos

Maestro is a globally recognized debit and prepaid card brand that is owned by Mastercard. It uses Chip and PIN-based technology to allow users to make purchases and withdraw cash, as well as to convert funds into their local currency.

Its universal status means that hundreds of online casinos accept Maestro as a deposit method. Therefore, we refer to all online casinos that accept Maestro payments as Maestro casinos. By reading this page, you'll find out more about Maestro as a brand, the pros and cons of its service, and how to find the best Maestro casino sites for you—plus its bonuses.

Table of contents:

Maestro: the world's first POS network that's still a payment leader today

The creation of Maestro as a brand can be traced back to the late 80s, when Mastercard acquired the Cirrus ATM network—a pioneer in the installation of electronic cash machines. The plan was to launch an ATM-focused debit card, which would allow users to withdraw money from Cirrus ATMs all over the world.

Thus, Maestro came to life in 1991 and was an instant hit with customers. It was the first online point-of-sale (POS) network; extremely simple to use and it kickstarted a card payment revolution. Customers could withdraw money as they traveled, in the local currency, which eliminated the need for conversion.

The brand was also among the first to employ Chip and PIN technology, also known as EMV, which is named after the three founders: Europay, Mastercard and Visa.

The start of the 21st century saw the widespread use of online payments and Maestro gained more of a digital focus. Customers could now pay for products online, with many merchants accepting the service due to its high reputation. By 2015, an estimated 15 million outlets included Maestro among their payment methods, and today Maestro stands as one of the leading payment methods in the world.

The pros and cons of Maestro

Maestro is a popular payment method for several reasons. Its sky-high reputation means that it's accepted by merchants all around the world. You might be in the most remote corner of the world, and there is a good chance you'll come across a Maestro facility.

As with all Mastercard brands, Maestro also follows strict security protocols. Users benefit from zero liability protection, meaning you'll receive compensation should someone fraudulently take money from your account. However, be sure to check your terms and conditions if you have a prepaid card, as they often don't qualify for this.

Other security mechanisms include payment encryption and tokenization (where your card details are replaced by a unique token in the merchant's database), making it very difficult for someone to hack your card.

Another big positive is the card's transaction speed—you should expect payments to be made instantly due to their electronic nature. Although this is becoming a standard facility among online payment methods.

In terms of negatives, it can be a time-consuming process to get hold of a Maestro card. Mastercard may conduct a credit check, and it sometimes takes several days for the physical card to arrive via the mail. This could prove frustrating to people who want to use the service right away, and there are many digital payment methods such as Neteller, Skrill, and Revolut that offer easier access.

How to use Maestro in an online casino

Maestro's universal status means that it's accepted as a payment method in many online casinos. Once you've found your favorite Maestro casino, it's important to know how to deposit funds into your account with the payment method. Those familiar with Visa, Mastercard, and Amex deposits will find it easy, since the process is similar.

First, sign up to the Maestro online casino in question—this should only take a minute or two, as most casinos make it an easy process for new users. Then, check that you have enough funds to cover your deposit in your Maestro account. After that, proceed with the following steps:

1. Sign into your casino account and go to the site's cashier.
2. Choose 'Maestro' from the list of payment methods.
3. Enter your Maestro card details―usually the 16-digit card number, expiry date and CVV code―and the deposit amount.
4. Enter your Maestro security code.
5. Click to confirm your deposit amount and execute the payment.