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More information about Maestro casinos
Maestro, or Mastercard Maestro, is part of Mastercard, a leading payment card company that offers a reliable and secure way to make transactions both online and in-person.
With its wide acceptance by merchants around the world, Maestro has been a popular choice for individuals who prefer to use cards for their purchases. It features advanced technology for fast and hassle-free payments and also has robust fraud protection measures to ensure safety.
Maestro's widespread acceptance as a deposit method by numerous casino sites has made it a popular choice for UK players, however on July 1, 2023, Mastercard started to phase out the Maestro card across Europe.
Still, the cards remain in use for the foreseeable future, so if you're a Maestro user, you may still want to find online casinos that accept Maestro. Yet this can be tricky.
This page aims to make that easier for you by providing information on locating the best Maestro casinos, what features to look out for, as well as information on bonuses and the advantages and disadvantages of Maestro's services.
Continue reading to learn the following:
A brief history of Maestro
Maestro has been in circulation since 1991 following Mastercard's acquisition of the Cirrus ATM network, a leading ATM installer. The idea was to launch a dedicated card that would let customers withdraw from one of the many Cirrus ATMs.
As the first-ever point-of-sale (POS) debit card, Maestro quickly gained popularity through its ease-of-use and convenience. Maestro was one of the first brands to use Chip and Pin technology, one of the driving forces behind universal card payments.
Up until that point, customers had to swipe their card through a payment terminal, which presented a security risk: Chip and Pin's use of a code that only the user knew dramatically increased safety.
Maestro sailed on the crest of this payment wave, and expanded to several countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. It became "effectively the only pan-European debit brand accepted almost everywhere across Europe", according to Mastercard, and quickly reached over 100 million worldwide users.
Today, there are thought to be at least 400 million cards in circulation.
With the advent of online payments, Maestro adopted a more digital approach which has also led to a downturn in the use of its cards. Many online merchants adopted Maestro as a trusted method, including online casinos, and it remained one of the leading providers.
However, in 2021 Mastercard released a statement saying how Maestro cards were not compatible with widely used e-commerce portals. Instead, they planned to replace expired or lost Maestro cards with a Debit Mastercard, which could be used online, for example in Mastercard casinos, and offline, globally.
Cardholders would receive new debit cards without having to do anything, which would operate in the same way as Maestro but with more capabilities.
The phasing out of Maestro was a move to adapt to the smart, safe and seamless experience of using debit cards in today's digital lifestyles.
The pros and cons of using Maestro
As with any payment method, Maestro comes with a set of pros and cons.
Pros of Maestro
Maestro is a popular payment method because it comes with zero liability protection, payment encryption, and tokenization to safeguard users against fraudulent activities.
Maestro's electronic nature also ensures instant payment transactions, which is becoming a standard feature among online payment methods.
As a debit or prepaid card, Maestro enables users to spend only the money they have in their account, helping them manage their expenses and avoid interest and credit card fees. This is particularly helpful for Maestro casino players who want to avoid problem gambling, a growing issue in the UK betting industry.
Cons of Maestro
Maestro is globally accepted by merchants because of the strict security protocols that come with all Mastercard brands, but it does have some downsides that may frustrate today's users.
For a start, obtaining a Maestro card can be a time-consuming process, requiring a credit check and several days for delivery. This isn't ideal for people who want immediate access to payment services.
Also, as Mastercard itself stated, the Maestro is built primarily for a physical world and cannot consistently be used for e-commerce payments. To be more specific, the numbering convention on Maestro cards (up to 19 digits) is not compatible with widely used e-commerce portals. This is why the card is set to be discontinued: perhaps the biggest downside possible to using it!
How to make a Maestro online casino deposit
To deposit in a Maestro online casino, follow these steps.
First, sign up for the top Maestro online casino for you. Then, check if you have enough funds in your Maestro account to cover the deposit. If you do, sign in to your casino account and go to the cashier.
Choose Maestro from the list of payment methods and enter your card details, including the 16-digit card number, expiry date, CVV code, and security code.
Confirm the deposit amount, and once confirmed, your funds will be immediately available.
Withdrawals from your casino account to your bank account using Maestro may be subject to fees and take several days.
How to choose the top Maestro online casino for you
There are tons of online casinos with Maestro as a payment method, but you may only want one that fits all of your preferences.
Casino Meter is here to help you with this. Our sorting and filter system is designed to help you locate just the best Maestro casinos for you. When you open the page, you'll see a list of Maestro casinos ordered according to their unique Meter rating: this is a score that our team of experts have composed made up of the following factors:
- The casino's level of customer service
- The user complaints it's received
- Casino Meter expert team's evaluation
- Its suitability for the UK market
- Several more important criteria that go toward making a top Maestro online casino
We recommend you start your search with the Maestro online casinos at the top of this list as they stand the best chance of giving you a satisfying casino experience.
You can change the sort to order the list by different criteria, however. 'Newly opened', for example, will put the newest Maestro casinos at the top. 'Oldest casinos' will reverse that order.
There are also several filters that you can use to make your search easier. Here are some of them.
- Game Type
Track down those casinos that have just the casino games you want, be it slots or blackjack. - Mobile-friendly casinos
Mobile-friendly casinos are par for the course now, but you make sure your Maestro online casino is compatible with your smartphone or table with this filter. - Game Provider
Whether Red Tiger or Apricot (formerly Microgaming), this filter will help you find those sites with games by your favourite provider.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to find Maestro online casino bonuses?
Yes, many online casinos offer bonuses for deposits made using Maestro, just like they do for other payment methods.
You can find these by going to our list of online casino bonuses and choosing 'Maestro' in the Payment Method filter. Here you'll get a selection of available bonuses, which you can further sort and filter according to various features, including bonus type and value.
However, like with any casino offer, it's important to check the terms and conditions of the bonus before accepting it.
Can I use Maestro at all online casinos?
No, not all online casinos accept Maestro. It's important to check the casino's accepted payment methods before signing up.
Are there any transaction limits when playing at Maestro casinos?
Transaction limits may vary depending on the online casino and the specific terms of your Maestro card. It's important to check the limits before making any deposits or withdrawals.