Maestro is an international debit card provided by the financing company MasterCard. In a number of different countries, it is one of the most prominent debit card providers. Maestro’s services allow you to digitally transfer money from a linked bank account to a number of participating merchants, including over 100 different online casinos.
Disclaimer for US Players
Although Maestro is fairly uncommon within the United States, you may be able to use it at participating online casinos. However, you will need to check beforehand with the casino’s support to see if their processor will accept the transaction. This is due to the various regulations that have been passed within the USA that prevent banks from funding online gaming accounts.
Overview of Maestro
Because Maestro is a card service, it is one of the quickest ways to deposit funds into an online casino account. In order to get a Maestro card, you’ll need to get an account with a bank that offers the Maestro brand as a debit card. This process will likely require an in-person consultation with a bank officer, followed by a waiting period of 1-2 weeks for the card to be delivered to your address.
Depositing with Maestro
In order to make a deposit into your online casino account with Maestro, you’ll first need to make sure that your bank account has enough money. Unlike other debit card providers, Maestro generally does not allow you to overdraft. Then log into your online casino, go to the cashier, and choose the credit/debit card option.
After choosing how much you’d like to deposit, you’ll be presented with a form. Simply enter your personal details, your debit card number, the expiration date, and the CVV. You may need to enter your 4- or 6-digit PIN number as well. After completing the form, your deposit should be ready to play within seconds.
Advantages of Maestro
The level of convenience that Maestro provides is unparalleled by most other payment solutions. You do not need to create an account with any third-party financier; the entire transaction is performed directly between you and the casino. Additionally, many online casinos will even let you save your card information so you only have to enter it once.
Maestro also offers a level of security that most other merchants cannot. This is because their entire network is guarded 24/7 by various security mechanisms. If you encounter any issues while using the card, or if your information is compromised, you can contact Maestro and they will resolve the problem effectively.
Disadvantages of Maestro
Although actually using Maestro is very convenient, the process of getting one definitely takes a significant amount of time and effort. Unlike e-wallet services, getting a Maestro card cannot be done instantly over the Internet. The entire process of consulting with a bank and waiting for the card to be delivered will take several days.
Additionally, Maestro cannot usually be used as a withdrawal method. If you win with your deposit, you will likely need to find another way to get your cash out. You can usually opt for a direct bank transfer or cheque, but you may need to create an account with a third-party e-wallet.