What Is a Gaming Merchant Account?
A gaming merchant account is a high-risk merchant account that lets a licensed gambling operator accept deposits by card and other payment methods, and send withdrawals to players. Gambling transactions are processed under merchant category code (MCC) 7995, which most mainstream processors do not support.
Because the payment industry treats gambling as high risk, the account comes from a specialist payment processor. That acquirer checks your licence, registers your MID (which has an annual recurring cost), and sets terms such as rolling reserves and payout schedules based on your risk profile.
Gaming Businesses We Support
All of the businesses below must hold a UKGC, MGA or EU national licence (our partner processors only work with licensed, regulated operators).
| Business type | What the account needs to handle |
|---|---|
| Online casinos (slots, table games, live casino) | High deposit frequency, fast withdrawals, MCC 7995, strong fraud screening |
| Sportsbooks and betting | Traffic spikes around live events, in-play deposits, same-day payouts |
| Online bingo | Small, frequent deposits and low-friction checkout on mobile |
| Lottery and lottery-style products | Ticket sales, prize payouts, age and location checks |
| Online poker | Tournament buy-ins, player-to-player liquidity, payouts |
| Fantasy sports and pool betting | Entry fees, contest payouts, licence confirmation per market |
| White-label and B2B platform operators | Multiple brands, multiple MIDs, consolidated reporting |
Not a real-money gambling operator? Social casino, video game and virtual currency platforms are covered on our social gaming merchant account page. UK prize competitions and skill games are covered by our competition payment gateway. Betting tipster and advice services can use a betting advice merchant account.
Sportsbook Payment Processing
Sportsbooks see their highest deposit volumes in the minutes before kick-off and during live play. Acquirers that work with betting operators plan for these peaks, so deposits are not declined when demand is highest. We look for partners with high uptime, fast authorisation and payout options, so winnings reach players quickly.
Fantasy Sports Payment Processing
Whether fantasy sports counts as gambling depends on the market. In Great Britain, paid fantasy contests are usually regulated as pool betting and need a UK Gambling Commission licence. Our partner processors will ask how your contests work and which licence covers each market before approving the account.
Who Can Apply: Licences Our Processing Partner May Accept
We work only with gaming operators that hold a valid licence from one of the regulators below. You must also be licensed in every market you accept players from. This is what UK and European PSPs require, and it is why our partners can offer stable, long-term processing.
| Regulator | Covers |
|---|---|
| UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) | Players in Great Britain |
| Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) | Malta-licensed B2C operators serving European markets |
| Netherlands – Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) | Players in the Netherlands |
| Spain – DGOJ | Players in Spain |
| Italy – ADM | Players in Italy |
| Germany – GGL | Players in Germany |
| Sweden – Spelinspektionen | Players in Sweden |
| Denmark – Spillemyndigheden | Players in Denmark |
| France – ANJ | Players in France |
| Other EU national regulators | Players in that country, assessed case by case |
We cannot help with: unlicensed operators, other offshore-only licences, or operators accepting players from markets their licence doesn’t cover.
UK Gambling Payment Rules You Need to Know
- No credit cards. Since 14 April 2020, UKGC licensees cannot accept credit cards for gambling, including credit cards used through e-wallets. Your checkout must block credit cards for British players.
- Strong Customer Authentication. Card deposits from UK and EEA players need 3D Secure 2 authentication. This also moves liability for many fraud chargebacks away from you.
- GamStop. UKGC-licensed online operators must check players against the GamStop self-exclusion scheme.
- Age and identity checks. Players must be verified as 18 or over before they can deposit or gamble.
- Customer interaction and affordability. Acquirers review your safer gambling and financial risk policies during underwriting, not just your licence.
Payment Methods for UK & European Players
| Method | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Debit Cards | Main deposit method in the UK and most of Europe |
| Open Banking / Pay by Bank | Instant bank payments with no chargebacks, and a strong alternative to cards in the UK |
| SEPA and SEPA Instant | Euro deposits and withdrawals across the EU |
| Trustly | Popular across the Nordics, Germany and the Netherlands |
| Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard | Widely used by casino and betting players |
| Apple Pay and Google Pay | Faster mobile checkout and higher deposit conversion |
| Card payouts | Withdrawals straight to the player’s debit card |
Need more European coverage? See our European high-risk merchant accounts and UK high-risk merchant accounts.
Why PSPs Treat Gaming as High Risk
- Chargebacks. Players sometimes dispute deposits after losing, or claim a family member used their card.
- Fraud and money laundering. Stolen cards and attempts to move money through gaming accounts mean acquirers expect strong KYC and AML controls.
- Regulation. Rules differ in every market, and the acquirer shares responsibility if you take players from markets where you are not licensed.
- Mandatory registration. Gambling merchant’s MID must be registered and monitored, which adds cost and work for the acquirer.
None of this means you can’t get approved. It means your application needs to show a valid licence, a compliant website, clear policies and good fraud controls from day one.
Gaming Merchant Account Fees (Indicative Only)
Actual rates will be shared by our PSP partners after full review. Pricing is set by PSP partners and depends on your licence, markets, volume, processing history and chargeback ratio. These industry ranges are typical for UK and EU gaming merchants:
| Fee | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Card processing | 2.5% – 6.0% + £0.10–£0.30 / €0.12–€0.35 per transaction |
| Open Banking / Pay by Bank | Usually lower than cards, often a flat fee per payment |
| Gambling/Gaming MID registration | Annual fee, passed on by the acquirer |
| Setup fee | £0 – £500 depending on the acquirer |
| Rolling reserve | 5% – 10% of volume held for 90–180 days |
| Chargeback fee | £15 – £50 per dispute |
| Settlement | Weekly as standard; faster settlement for established operators |
High-volume operators with clean processing history can usually negotiate lower rates and reserves. Request a quote for pricing based on your business.
How to Get a Gaming Merchant Account
- Tell us about your business. Your licence, brands, target markets, expected volume and current processing, if any.
- Pre-application review. We check your website, terms, safer gambling pages and payment flows against acquirer requirements, and tell you what to fix first.
- Acquirer matching. We send your application to the acquirers most likely to approve your licence and markets, not to every bank at once.
- Underwriting and MID registration. The acquirer reviews your documents and registers you with card companies under MCC 7995.
- Integration and testing. Your platform connects to the PSP’s gateway by API or plugin, and deposits and withdrawals are tested before launch.
- Go live and ongoing support. We help with backup MIDs and new markets as you grow.
From a complete application, most gaming merchants go live in 5 to 10 business days.
Documents You Will Need
- Gambling licence(s) for every market you serve, linked from your website footer
- Certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, shareholder register
- Passport and proof of address for directors and anyone owning 25% or more
- Recent business bank statements
- Previous 3–6 months of processing statements, if you already process
- AML, KYC and responsible gambling policies
- Website terms, privacy policy, and deposit and withdrawal rules
- Business plan and volume forecast, if you are a new operator
Why Gaming Applications Get Declined
- Licence gaps: taking players from markets your licence does not cover.
- Website not ready: no visible licence, terms or safer gambling pages, or geo-blocking that doesn’t work.
- High chargebacks: previous statements showing dispute ratios close to approved limits. Aim to stay well under 1%.
- Incomplete documents: missing UBO identification, policies or bank statements.
- Wrong acquirer: applying to PSPs that don’t accept your licence or markets.
We fix these before submission, which is why we check your business before applying rather than after a decline.
Why Gaming Operators Work With QuadraPay
- Gaming-specific PSP network: We work with processing partners that accept UKGC and MGA licensees.
- Applications that get approved: we prepare and review your file before it reaches underwriting.
- Backup processing: multiple MIDs, so one acquirer’s issue doesn’t stop your deposits.
- A dedicated account manager and a UK phone line: 020 3951 5898.
QuadraPay is an independent merchant services consultancy and only acts as an introducer. We do not process, acquire or underwrite transactions ourselves; approval and terms are set by the acquiring partners.
Gaming Merchant Account FAQs
Do I need a gambling licence to get a gaming merchant account?
Yes. We only work with operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority or an EU national regulator, and you must be licensed for every market you accept players from. Unlicensed applications are declined at the first stage.
Can UK gambling operators accept credit cards?
No. Since 14 April 2020, UK Gambling Commission licensees cannot accept credit cards for gambling, including credit cards used through e-wallets. Debit cards, Open Banking, bank transfers and approved e-wallets are still allowed.
What is MCC 7995?
MCC 7995 is the merchant category code for betting, including online casino games, sports betting and lottery tickets. Gambling transactions must be processed under MCC 7995, and card companies require PSPs to register merchants using it.
How long does gaming merchant account approval take?
Typically 5 to 10 business days from a complete application, including underwriting, MID registration and gateway testing. Missing documents, an unclear licence position or a website that fails compliance review are the most common causes of delay.
What rolling reserve should a gaming merchant expect?
Most acquirers hold 5% to 10% of processed volume for 90 to 180 days. New operators without processing history usually start at the higher end, and reserves can often be reduced after six months of clean processing.
Does QuadraPay process the payments itself?
No. QuadraPay is an independent merchant services consultancy. We prepare your application and match you with acquiring partners and payment providers that accept gaming. The acquirer underwrites, approves and processes your account.
Do you accept Curaçao or other offshore gaming licences?
No. For gaming merchant accounts we only support operators with UK Gambling Commission, MGA, or EU national licences.
What is a social gaming merchant account?
A social gaming merchant account enables eligible social gaming businesses to accept and manage payments from players through their websites or mobile apps. The right payment solution depends on the game’s business model, how virtual goods or in-app purchases are sold, and whether real-money prizes or redeemable rewards are involved. QuadraPay helps social gaming businesses explore suitable payment processing solutions through its acquiring partners.
How can social gaming apps find payment processing solutions?
Social gaming apps can find suitable payment processing solutions by evaluating their payment methods, in-app purchase requirements, transaction volumes, operating countries, and business model. Businesses involving virtual currencies, real-money prizes, or redeemable rewards may face different underwriting requirements. QuadraPay helps eligible social gaming businesses prepare their merchant applications and connect with potential acquiring partners based on their requirements.
What is an online casino merchant account?
An online casino merchant account enables eligible online casino operators to accept and manage customer payments through their websites or apps. The appropriate solution depends on the operator’s licensing, permitted jurisdictions, customer locations, deposit and withdrawal flows, transaction volumes, and settlement requirements. QuadraPay helps eligible operators prepare merchant applications and explore suitable payment processing solutions through its acquiring partners.
How does casino payment processing work?
Casino payment processing connects an eligible online casino with payment acceptance and processing services for customer deposits and, where supported, withdrawals. The setup depends on the operator’s licensing, target markets, available payment methods, currencies, transaction patterns, and acquiring partner requirements. QuadraPay helps casino operators assess their needs, prepare applications, and identify potential acquiring partners for their business model.
What is an online poker merchant account?
An online poker merchant account enables eligible poker operators to accept customer payments through their websites or mobile apps. The right setup depends on whether the platform offers real-money poker or a different gaming model, along with its licensing, operating jurisdictions, customer locations, deposit and withdrawal requirements, and transaction volumes. QuadraPay helps eligible poker businesses prepare merchant applications and explore suitable payment processing solutions through its acquiring partners.
How can an online poker platform choose a payment gateway?
An online poker platform should evaluate a payment gateway based on its supported jurisdictions, licensing requirements, payment methods, mobile compatibility, deposit and withdrawal flows, settlement currencies, reporting, and transaction volumes. Operators should also confirm that the provider and relevant acquiring partners support their specific poker business model. QuadraPay helps eligible operators assess these requirements and explore potential payment processing partners.
What is a sports betting merchant account?
A sports betting merchant account enables eligible sports betting operators to accept and manage customer payments through their websites or mobile apps. The appropriate solution depends on the operator’s licensing, permitted jurisdictions, customer locations, transaction volumes, deposit and withdrawal requirements, and settlement needs. QuadraPay helps eligible betting businesses prepare merchant applications and explore suitable payment processing solutions through its acquiring partners.
How does payment processing for online betting work?
Payment processing for online betting involves connecting an eligible betting operator with payment acceptance services and, where supported, payout capabilities. The setup depends on the operator’s business model, licensing, target markets, supported payment methods, transaction patterns, and acquiring partner requirements. QuadraPay helps operators assess their requirements, prepare merchant applications, and explore potential acquiring partners.
How can an online betting business choose a betting payment gateway?
An online betting business should evaluate a payment gateway based on supported jurisdictions, licensing requirements, available payment methods, transaction volumes, settlement currencies, reporting, integration options, and withdrawal capabilities. Operators should confirm that the gateway and relevant acquiring partners support their specific business model and markets. QuadraPay helps eligible operators evaluate their requirements and explore suitable payment processing options.
What is the difference between a sports betting merchant account and a sportsbook payment gateway?
A sports betting merchant account is part of the arrangement used to accept customer payments, while a sportsbook payment gateway provides the technology that securely transmits payment transactions between the operator and the relevant payment services. Depending on the setup, these functions may be provided by different partners. QuadraPay helps eligible sportsbook operators understand their requirements and explore suitable acquiring and payment technology partners.
Can online betting businesses get payment processing for multiple markets?
Potentially, yes. However, payment processing availability varies by country, local gambling regulations, operator licensing, customer location, and the requirements of each acquiring partner. Businesses expanding into multiple markets should verify eligibility, supported currencies, settlement arrangements, and available payment methods for each jurisdiction. QuadraPay helps eligible operators explore potential partners based on their target markets and operating model.
What should businesses know about betting merchant account approval?
Betting merchant account approval depends on factors such as the operator’s licences, permitted markets, ownership information, business model, website disclosures, transaction profile, and the acquiring partner’s underwriting requirements. Approval is not guaranteed, and requirements can vary between providers. QuadraPay helps eligible betting businesses organise their applications and identify potential acquiring partners whose requirements may align with their operations.
Can a raffle business get a merchant account?
A raffle merchant account enables eligible raffle and competition businesses to accept customer payments through their websites or platforms. Approval depends on the business model, applicable laws, operating jurisdictions, how entries are sold, prize arrangements, and the acquiring partner’s underwriting requirements. QuadraPay helps eligible raffle operators prepare merchant applications and explore suitable payment processing solutions through its acquiring partners.
Can a sweepstakes casino get payment processing?
Eligible sweepstakes casino businesses may be able to obtain payment processing, but availability depends on their operating model, applicable laws, permitted jurisdictions, prize and redemption mechanics, and acquiring partner requirements. Operators should assess their legal position and payment requirements before launching or expanding. QuadraPay helps eligible sweepstakes businesses prepare merchant applications and explore potential payment processing partners based on their business model and target markets.
Get a Gaming Merchant Account Quote
Tell us your licence, target markets and expected monthly volume. An account manager will reply within one business day. Apply Online.
UK: 020 3951 5898