Mastercard stands out as one of the leading payment methods among sweepstakes casino players in the US. The leading credit and debit card provider is widespread as a purchase method at the vast majority of sweeps casinos, albeit not that common for redemptions.
Mastercard Sweepstakes Casinos - Guide to Purchases and Redemptions Using Mastercard
Still, all real money purchases are optional at online sweepstakes casinos in the States, so we think it’s a good idea to learn how Mastercard payments operate if you’re interested in claiming purchase discounts or coin packs.
The whole SweepsKings team has joined forces for this one, and we’ll even include a few recommendations of the most legit Mastercard sweepstakes casinos in our book. Let’s dive in.
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SweepsKings Recommended Mastercard Casinos - quick comparison
- Excellent referral program
- Sleek desktop app
- 1,000+ games from premier studios
- McJackpot network
- iOS and Android apps
- 1,000 slots and live dealer games
- Live dealer games
- 150% first purchase bonus
- 50 SC for cash prizes
- Live games by Playtech
- Partnered with streamers
- Tremendous slots coverage
- Multiplayer casino-style gaming
- Crypto purchases and redemptions
- Game variety
- Free SC on socials
- User-friendly website on all devices
- Low gift card redemption threshold
- Paris Hilton ambassador
- 1,500 slots, live, and bingo
- VIP Transfer
- Slots and live game shows
- Available in 44 states
- iOS app
- Authentic brand, made in the USA
- 1,500+ Games, Slots & Live Dealer Games!
- EGR Social Casino Award in 2023 & 2024
We want to kick things off by showcasing the best Mastercard social and sweepstakes casino sites you can join right now. We have in-depth reviews of each of these platforms, and they all passed the SweepsKings test with high honors.
Mastercard Sweepstakes Casinos 101
Up and running since 1966, Mastercard has amassed a market share of nearly a quarter of all purchases globally, third to 40% for Visa and 32% for Unionpay according to a Nilson report.
Security measures play a big role in drawing sweeps casino players to Mastercard, with technologies like the SecureCode feature, which is a private code linked to your card that is entered for online purchases.
Zero Liability Protection is also a big one because it guarantees cardholders are never held responsible for fraudulent charges.
What We Like About Mastercard
Our fondness of using Mastercard at online sweeps casinos comes down to having a multinational corporation behind you, and that means robust security more than anything.
You could say that the benefits of Mastercard are similar to Visa sweeps casinos, and you wouldn’t be too far off. Still, there’s a unique twist to it, so let’s discuss it.
Worldwide Acceptance, Hassle-Free Access
Mastercard is essentially accepted by all sweepstakes casino sites. It’s a global network you can rely on whether you’re gaming at home or on the go. Convenience plays a major role here.
Digital Wallet Integration
Mastercard works with digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay – Samsung Pay, too – and that adds an extra layer of convenience when managing your deposits and withdrawals. It’s flexible but also faster and even more secure.
Zero Liability Protection
Mastercard has a zero liability policy, meaning that you are not responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card. If someone attempts to misuse your card, the company will jump in to resolve the issue and you will not lose any funds.
Mobile Apps Make Card Management Easy
The absolute majority of Mastercard issuers have apps for transaction monitoring. You can also use this software to lock your card or set spending limits. That means more control over how you use your card at sweepstakes casinos, not to mention easier fund management.
Fast and Reliable Refunds
Refunds and transaction reversals are a breeze with Mastercard. Sweepstakes players appreciate faster access to funds greatly, and this feature means less waiting time for you for the issues to be resolved.
What We Like a Little Less About Mastercard
Using MasterCard has plenty of benefits, mainly related to safety and convenience. But it’s not perfect, and our main issue comes with the lack of option for redemptions with Mastercard at most sweeps casinos.
Often Not an Option for Sweeps Prize Redemptions
Just about any sweepstakes casino online will accept Mastercard for purchases, all of which are perfectly valid for first purchase bonuses if available. But when it comes to real money prize redemptions, the list becomes much more narrow. Only a few sweeps casinos, like High 5 and RealPrize, allow their players to redeem real money prizes with Mastercard.
Transaction Fees
In most cases, at least a 1-2% fee will apply to using Mastercard at sweepstake casino sites. This is not a major flaw when we look at the grand scheme, where bank transfers carry heftier fees while cryptocurrency, albeit fee-free in most cases, is less secure and far less available.
Security Issues With Physical Card
There’s something about having a physical card with all the payment info written on it that irks us as outdated and unnecessary in the high-tech age we live in. But considering the robust Mastercard security measures we talked about, this is once again only a minor flaw.
Finding the Best Mastercard Sweeps Casinos
We just mentioned that pretty much every sweepstakes casino site will accept Mastercard for deposits. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming but we think it’s easy to narrow down your choices with these few simple rules.
Look for Mastercard Redemptions or Alternatives
The ability to redeem real money prizes with Mastercard is not common at sweeps casino sites. If that’s a dealbreaker for you, the number of legit choices will not be that large but hey, at least you won’t be overwhelmed by options!
As noted, High 5 Casino offers Mastercard redemptions, for example. But if you’re fine with redeeming your prizes using other methods, that same casino site also allows you to use PayPal.
Or, some platforms support gift card redemptions – PlayFame, for example. You might even find a legit option with crypto redemptions, like MyPrize.us, which supports instant USDC payouts.
Look at First Purchase Deals
After establishing your redemption options, we think it’s a good idea to look at the first purchase deals and compare no deposit bonuses. Find the gaming site offering the largest deals so you can get more for your Mastercard purchases when the time comes.
For example, Hello Millions grants all newcomers 15,000 GC and 2.5 SC just for signing up and then throws in up to 230,000 GC and 115 SC as part of the first three purchase bonuses.
Check the Game Catalog
This one goes beyond Mastercard but you need to make sure that the sweeps casino site you’re considering also has the casino-style games that you’re after.
Slots take up the majority of catalogs at sweeps casinos but you need to go through the software providers and single out the platforms that host the likes of Pragmatic Play and other reputable studios.
How to Play at Sweepstakes Casinos Using Mastercard
Joining Mastercard sweeps casinos is pretty easy. In most cases, you simply have to give your card info and then go through a brief KYC in some instances, often only once you decide to redeem real cash prizes.
That said, there are dozens of types of Mastercard. The one you can or will claim depends on your location and many other factors.
In general, these are the basic steps for getting a new Mastercard, but again, many factors are involved, so maybe visiting your local bank is the top solution.
- Visit Mastercard.us, select “Mastercard for you from the menu,” and then “Find a card.”
- See the available options and compare rates and fees.
- Apply for your preferred Mastercard credit or debit card.
- Provide the required info along the way and wait for your card to arrive.
Now, with a card in hand, you can use it at a sweepstakes casino site of your choice. You will need to have funds available, and we recommend at least $10 to claim some of the best first purchase deals available.
1. Visit a sweepstakes casino site of your choice and register (or log in if you already have an account).
2. Either open your sweeps casino account and find the cashier or hit the “Buy Coins” button on the front page (the “Buy Coins” text can vary, of course).
3. Select your Coin Bundle.
4. When prompted, select Mastercard as your payment method.
5. Provide your card details and proceed to make a purchase. If needed, complete a KYC first.
Mastercard sweepstakes casinos ensure purchases are optional by providing players free bonuses regularly. Deciding to buy coin packs is entirely within your discretion.
Purchasing Gold and Sweeps Coins with Mastercard
The way the classic sweepstakes casino model operates across the US is that players can purchase Gold Coins for free play using Mastercard or other credit/debit cards, but they can’t technically buy Sweeps Coins that are redeemable for real money prizes.
Instead, SCs are often granted as a gift within GC bundles. Similarly, most sweepstakes casinos require a verification check before players can purchase GC bundles using Mastercard.
It’s usually the most common verification docs like a government-issued ID card or a driver’s license.
Sweepstakes casinos don’t technically have deposits or withdrawals but you can purchase Gold Coin packages for extra free play.
Using Mastercard doesn’t come with specific limits for purchases. At most sweepstakes casinos, the cheapest GC bundles cost $0.99 or maybe $1.99. The biggest packages rarely go above $399.99.
In terms of promotional offers, every sweepstakes casino we recommend has a no deposit bonus that newly registered players can claim. Apart from that, the first purchase often includes extra perks and, again, the terms are usually the same for all payment methods.
For example, Hello Millions welcomes new players with a no deposit bonus of 15,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins for registering and then adds a truly massive deal worth up to 230,000 Gold Coins and 115 Sweeps Coins at a discounted price.
Redeeming Sweeps Cash Prizes via Mastercard
Mastercard redemptions at sweepstakes casinos are not a given. In fact, they are somewhat of a rarity. Still, select high-quality platforms support redeeming sweeps cash prizes via Mastercard, including RealPrize and the High 5 Casino.
Most of these platforms treat their Sweeps Coins (SC) as bonus funds that must be wagered at least once to be eligible for redemption.
Similarly, sweepstakes casinos set a minimum redemption sum, usually at least 25 SC and often at 100 SC.
If the social casino site you joined offers Mastercard redemptions, the process times are in line with typical Mastercard payouts, meaning one to three business days.
If you haven’t verified your profile at the website, that might take an additional 24 to 48 hours, but you only need to verify once.
When it comes to purchases, every request to buy Gold Coins with Mastercard is processed nearly instantly.
Apart from the minimum redemption requirements, restrictions on maximum redemptions are often in place. Usually, sweepstakes casinos will not allow more than $10,000 per transaction. While players can redeem more funds in prizes, it will be done in increments, which will likely incur additional fees.
Individual states might also impose additional restrictions. For example, Florida usually caps daily redemptions for online gaming sites at $5,000. It’s always a good idea to consult our sweepstakes casino reviews or read the T&Cs yourself to find these details.
My Top Mastercard Sweeps Casino Picks
The SweepsKings team has covered hundreds of sweepstakes casinos in our reviews section, both the reputable ones and the ones you should avoid.
In case you don’t have the time to go through all that research and testing, which is perfectly valid, here are three excellent Mastercard sweepstakes casinos that the whole team here can agree are legitimate and valid.
Hello Millions
- Signup bonus: 15,000 GC + 2.5 SC
- Banking methods: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Online Banking, eGift cards
- Minimum Redemption: $50
Hello Millions is a very well-rounded Mastercard sweeps casino. It hosts about two dozen software studios, including the likes of Pragmatic Play and NetEnt.
Their collection of over 1,000 casino-style games isn’t just large but varied on all fronts. If you want slots, you can choose from instant jackpot games or dive into Hold And Win titles. And if that’s not your thing, arcade, slingo, and live casino games await.
The reason why we highlight this place as a high-quality Mastercard casino website is the welcome package.
Using Mastercard or any of the supported payment methods for your initial three purchases can net you up to 230,000 Gold Coins and 115 SC extra. The deal starts with the site’s $9.99 package as the 150% first purchase bonus.
PlayFame
- Signup bonus: 10,000 GC + 3 SC
- Banking methods: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Gift Card, Bank Transfers
- Minimum Redemption: $75
PlayFame is another fine choice that supports Mastercard payments. The collection of over 1,000 games leaves players with plenty of gaming options and the free daily bonus of 1,000 GC and up to 2.5 SC does a good job in keeping you coming back to the site.
The no deposit bonus for newcomers at PlayFame includes 10,000 GC and 3 SC, but a $9.99 initial purchase unlocks another 80,000 GC and 30 SC. The promo is valid for Mastercard users, of course.
Beyond this solid foundation, PlayFame also does an excellent job in the mobile department, with a dedicated sweepstakes casino app for desktop and iOS devices.
MyPrize.us
- Signup bonus: Up to 100,000 GC + 10 SC
- Banking methods: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Cryptocurrencies
- Minimum Redemption: $100
MyPrize.us is our top recommendation if you seek payment variety. Yes, Mastercard is an option but this place is also crypto-friendly and accepts Apple Pay.
That said, the gaming collection includes 1,000+ titles, which is just as much as our previous two picks, but the catalog feels better curated and it’s like every game delivers some sort of unique, exciting feature to draw you in.
Using Mastercard as a new player at MyPrize.us qualifies you for one of the site’s three discounted packages, going up to 750,000 GC + 65 SC for the $49.99 coin pack.
Alternative Payment Methods at Mastercard Sweepstakes Casinos
Mastercard is fast and reliable and we see no reason not to use it for sweepstakes casino purchases and redemptions.
Speaking of which, and as we have mentioned multiple times, not all gaming sites support Mastercard redemptions. For that reason, here are a few alternatives you might want to consider.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that if you want to play at US sweepstakes casinos, Mastercard gets the job done for purchases. Selecting a safe social casino is paramount, and our guide guarantees that and exclusive bonuses on signup and when placing Mastercard purchases.
Redemptions are rarely an option when using the credit card. To avoid problems down the line consider the alternative payment options provided by each recommended Mastercard gaming site beforehand.
Across the States, Mastercard is a perfectly valid banking option for casino-style gaming at sweeps sites. The limits are reasonable, transaction fees are low, and payments go through fast, too. Add the signature Mastercard convenience and safety into the mix and you’re in for a good one.