Click To Pay for instant transfers
Mastercard provides a secure and convenient way for Finnish casino players to make transactions to their online gambling accounts. Online gambling sites in Finland and abroad recognise Mastercard as a preferred and accessible payment method for players, so given its widespread acceptance, let’s take a look at Mastercard’s availability in Finland and how you can use it for casino payments.
Back in 2023, Finnish authorities published a blacklist of offshore casinos that target players from the country and instructed payment service providers to block deposits to these gambling sites.
The rationale here was to reduce the availability of gambling services, and per the gambling administration, PSPs in the country were obliged to block payments when instructed by the National Police Board.
So, using Mastercard for online casino payments may only be available for deposits in Veikkaus, the only permitted gambling company in the country. Finland is still the only EU member state that operates an online gambling monopoly model.
This is set to change, as the Finnish government will abandon this system and open the market to competition by introducing a licensing model in 2027 with marketing restrictions, age limits, and mandatory identity verification procedures.
With a review process focusing on transparency, security, and fairness, here is how Ace Alliance spots and rates MasterCard casinos that accept Finnish players.
MasterCard’s open banking solution can only be used at merchants that have partnered with the card network and adopted it. It works with a third-party app that connects with your bank and shares your data after you allow it to, so we focus on operators with this possibility.
Mastercard Send and Mastercard Move are real-time transfer services that allow instant payments by consumers. Casinos must integrate these services into their payment options to offer instant transactions.
Banks may charge transaction fees, but we check whether casinos add provisions on top of those fees. We also focus on casinos with EUR support, while the transaction limits will let us know whether to recommend a casino to casual players or high rollers.
All casinos we suggest implement a mobile-first approach, either by making their websites completely optimised for smartphone browsers or by developing native apps. Some mobile casinos in Finland streamline the registration process by working under the Pay N Play model.
Mastercard fully supports the EUR currency, making it easier for Finnish casino players to make transactions at gambling sites. EUR, alongside the likes of USD, CAD, and NZD, is commonly accepted currency at casinos, so you won’t have to worry about additional currency conversion fees.
Depositing with Mastercard at Finnish casinos requires you to follow just a few simple steps. After creating an account at a casino, you will need to head to the Cashier section and select Mastercard as your payment method. Then, enter the card details (cardholder, expiration date, and the CVV), before entering the amount to deposit. Confirm the transaction and the funds will reach your account momentarily.
Mastercard is unfortunately rarely accepted for withdrawals at casinos. If it is, note that you may need to complete ID verification before your first withdrawal, which may prolong the process. If it is available, you can initiate a withdrawal by selecting Mastercard and entering your bank account details (some cards have bank account details written, depending on the issuing bank). Input the amount to withdraw and confirm the transaction.
Mastercard transactions are usually instant thanks to the Click to Pay and Mastercard Send features, but the full settlement process between the casino’s bank and the cardholder can take several days. Fees are usually determined by individual banks, but some casinos may charge extra transaction fees.
There are numerous benefits that are linked to using Mastercard for online payments at casinos, with some of the notable ones including:
For you to better understand Mastercard’s place in the gaming industry, here is a table comparing how it compares in some aspects with Visa, another global card network.
Click To Pay for instant transfers
Visa Direct facilitates instant transactions
No hidden fees
Visa doesn’t charge any fees to users
Widespread acceptance
Accepted all around the world
Mastercard Identity Checks, Zero Liability Policy, ID Theft Protection, AI-Fraud Detection
Visa Secure, Visa Protect and Zero Liability Policy
Finnish casinos frequently reward players who deposit with MasterCard with various bonuses and promotions. Offers for new and existing players are available, and here are some of the main forms they can take.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are available to players who have just registered and made their first deposit. Several deposit bonuses can be part of the welcome package, all of which can be triggered with separate deposits.
Free Spins
Common promotions that often come in the form of a reload bonus. To get free spins, players need to make qualifying deposits and use the spins on eligible slots. Winnings generated from free spins are subject to wagering requirements.
High Roller
High roller bonuses are designed for VIP players who can afford to make substantially larger deposits. The maximum bonus amounts are always higher, while terms and conditions like wagering requirements are often identical to standard offers.
Cashback Offers
Cashback bonuses allow Finnish casino players to recoup some of the losses in eligible games during a qualifying period. Cashback can come with zero wagering requirements, but it can be tied to a player’s VIP status.
No Max Cashout
These types of bonuses are ideal for players aiming for astronomical wins. Casinos will frequently cap the maximum amount you can win from a bonus, but in rare instances, players will get to keep all their winnings, regardless of the size.
No Wagering Bonuses
No wagering bonuses are extremely rare in the industry, as they see the casino add funds directly to the player’s real money account. This kind of an offer can be part of a loyalty scheme and act as a reward for climbing a new level.
Game catalogues in reputable Finnish casinos usually count thousands of titles, mostly grouped in the following categories.
As is the case in other Scandinavian countries, Finnish players have a soft spot for Nordic-themed online slots. Slot sites in Finland feature popular Norse mythology slots, including Viking, Vikings go Berzerk, Age of the Gods Norse: Ways of Thunder, and Odin’s Gamble. Preferences can also lie elsewhere, which is seen in recent news that a Finnish player landed a €1,966,051 win in Net Gains Dream Drop by Relax.
Many players from Finland prefer RNG table games for their speed and convenience, as they offer fast-paced gameplay and multiple betting options. Table games can include multiple blackjack, baccarat, video poker, roulette, and poker variants.
Industry-leading providers such as Pragmatic Play Live and Evolution Gaming already have a strong presence in Finland. In 2023, Pragmatic signed its first partnership agreement with Veikkaus Oy, while Evolution did the same a couple of years later. These providers, alongside the likes of Ezugi and Playtech, are present in top Finnish live casinos as well, and they offer live baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and game show variants.
Crash games are most commonly found at international crypto casinos, such as Finnish crypto casinos. These games run on provably fair mechanisms, and they offer greater transparency. Aviator, JetX, Space XY, and Spaceman are examples of such games.
For a more balanced overview, here are a few pros and cons attached to using Mastercard for online gambling in Finland.
Strong security features
Convenient to use
No hidden fees
Available at offshore casinos
Instant deposits 
Rarely available for withdrawals
PSPs in Finland may block Mastercard transactions For a more enjoyable and personalised gaming experience, here are a few features we want you to keep an eye on before selecting a Mastercard casino.
Time Needed:
00:10
Device Required:
PC, Smartphone
Check whether the financial institution that issued your Mastercard is available at the casino. This is especially important for withdrawals, where Mastercard is not available.
You can check this information under the general terms and conditions tab of the casino. See the withdrawal processing times, verification checks, and potential fees before choosing a site.
See whether there are any Mastercard restrictions on bonuses and compare offers across casinos. Opt for sites that have the most favourable bonus terms for you.
You can start your gaming experience by depositing the minimum allowed amount. See how fast the process is and play a few real-money games to get the whole experience.
Online casinos routinely use SSL encryption to protect players’ data, but you can also implement a couple of other useful tips when gambling at Mastercard casinos.
Protect your bank account by enabling multi-factor authentication for your mobile banking app. Face ID for logging in should be available, while some banks will allow you to use one-time codes to confirm payments online.
Yagmur Uysal
Editor on
If Mastercard doesn’t really align with your preferences, you will be happy to know that Finnish casinos have numerous alternatives you can use instead:
Trustly
A real-time banking service, Trustly’s Pay n Play allows users to pay directly from their online banking accounts.
Skrill
An e-wallet that allows players to deposit without disclosing bank account details.
Visa
A card network that is similar to Mastercard and offers convenient, secure, and fast payments.
Using Mastercard for online gambling will add extra layers of security and convenience to your transactions. This is a payment method that is widely available across international casinos, but with PSP blocks in place in Finland, it may not always be possible for you to use it at casinos. If that is the case, we invite you to take a look at the alternative payment methods we have reviewed.
Yes, some of the security features include Mastercard ID Theft Protection, Zero Liability Policy and AI Fraud Monitoring.
Mastercard is rarely supported for casino withdrawals, so you may need to utilise bank transfers as the closest alternative.
Mastercard doesn’t charge fees to users, but casinos may charge a small transaction fee.
Yes, Mastercard deposits are eligible for all types of bonuses, including welcome offers, reload bonuses, and cashback deals.
E-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are generally faster than Mastercard, but they may contain higher transaction and currency conversion fees.
