Going across Canadian online casinos and checking out their payment methods lists, you’ll notice several cards accepted in most if not all of them, Maestro included. This is a global debit card with incredible availability across both national and international online casinos, so the perfect method to use if you’re looking for a convenient solution for making your deposits and withdrawals. It is one of those major brands that are also widely accepted across land-based establishments, so wherever you see its logo, you can certainly use it to make all kinds of payments and purchases with it with the funds you’ve won playing your favourite online casino games. What is Maestro and why use it across Canadian online casinos?
Top Maestro Casinos
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About Maestro
There’s not a single human being on the planet that hasn’t heard of Maestro or already has a card with its logo on it. This is one of the major card brands in the globe, launched by none other than MasterCard, the international financial company that offered all kinds of cards already before it launched the debit card network. In fact, a few years after it acquired Cirrus ATM Network in 1985, it launched the first point-of-sale debit card network we’re reviewing here. This happened in 1991, so the card network has been circulating for over three decades. It can be used both offline and online, across all ATMs and card terminals globally, working on a PIN-based principle.
MasterCard wanted to cater to those users who are either not eligible to hold a MasterCard credit card or simply don’t want to get issued with a credit card. Compared to the credit card, for which you’d need to go through extensive credit history checks and provide many identification and verification documents before you’re approved for it, with the debit card, the application process is much simpler. Since this is a card connected to your bank account, but allows you to spend only as much as you have on that account, you won’t need to go through long, exhausting procedures to obtain it.
We’ll go over the getting started procedure soon, but for now, you should know that the card has received worldwide recognition and is offered across more than 100 countries, Canada included. All financial institutions and banks that are authorized to issue MasterCard cards can also issue the debit card, so its accessibility and availability are astonishing. With that in mind, it should be clear to you by now that any Canadian bank you already have an account with will certainly be authorized to issue a debit card to you. On that note, you should know that in the meantime, MasterCard launched Maestro prepaid cards, too, so in case you need one, you should know that you could apply for one.
Now, as far as its availability across Canadian casinos goes, you should have no doubt that you’ll find it across most if not all, Canadian and international casinos out there. Most of the sites reviewed here at CasinoReports.ca accept it, so you’ll have no issue finding one that you’d want to join. Before you do, first stay with us to learn more about the getting started procedure with this card.
Getting Started with the Solution
Even though prepaid cards are also on the menu, we’ll focus here on the procedure for applying for a debit card. But we’ll also mention how to obtain a prepaid card, don’t worry. So, the first step would be deciding on whether you’d want to use the debit or the prepaid card across online casinos, keeping in mind that the former is accepted for both deposits and withdrawals, while the latter is only for deposits.
As mentioned, to apply for a debit card, you’d need to go to your bank, any bank you have an account with. Most, if not all, Canadian banks issue Maestro cards. So, pick one and give it a physical visit. Ask the desk clerk to give you the application form which you’d need to fill out with, mostly, personal details, as well as proof of income, proof of address and ID documents. After you submit the form, you’d need to wait for the bank to approve your debit card. As soon as it does, you’d receive your card within a week. Keep in mind that, the card will be linked to your account, but with it, you can only spend as much as you have on your account, and not a cent more. Unlike credit cards, whereupon an agreement with the bank, you can spend more, with debit cards, as you may as well now, you won’t be able to spend more than you have on your account.
This is one of the main reasons why debit cards are today more widely accepted across online casinos, since many countries put a ban on credit card gambling, due to safer gambling purposes. For instance, credit cards are no more accepted in the UK and in fact, debit cards are now the most used payment method among UK players. And while in Canada credit cards are an option, using debit cards would be wiser since you’ll have better control over your bankroll and casino spending.
On that note, you’ll definitely have all the control over your spending if you’re using the prepaid card. You can purchase the card at any authorized issuer by choosing one of the many denominations and voila, the card is immediately active and you can start using it right away, across any online casino that accepts prepaid cards.
Depositing and Withdrawing
Since you’ll be using a card, whether the debit or the prepaid one, the depositing process across online casinos would be a piece of cake. But first, make sure you choose a decent casino to join. As said, here on our site, you’ll find plenty of casinos that accept Maestro, including Spinpirate, Golden Tiger, KingdomAce, ZotaBet and Power Play Casino, to name a few. Just choose one and join it.
To make a deposit with Maestro, you’d need to go through the following steps:
- Go to the casino’s Banking/Payment Methods page.
- Look for Maestro’s logo if depositing with the debit, or look for the Prepaid Cards option if using the prepaid card.
- Enter the needed card details, such as card number, your name and the card’s expiry date.
- Specify how much you’d want to add to your casino balance.
- Confirm the transaction and watch the money arrive on your balance within seconds.
You should know here that for the debit card transaction to succeed, you might be asked to also provide the CVV number, for verification. This number, of course, is on the back of your card.
Withdrawals with the Maestro debit card are an option, and the procedure is incredibly similar. You’d need to go through the same first three steps, and on step 4, specify how much you’d need to withdraw. You’d need to wait for the casino to check the request and send you the money in a few business days directly to your card/bank account.
Keep in mind here that, even though the solution offers the functionality, rarely do casinos offer this card for withdrawals. So, before you decide on the casino to join, if you wish to use the card for withdrawals, make sure you first check whether you have the option. You will find a casino that does accept it, so if not on your first try, expand your search further.
Applicable Fees
Just like with any other card, fees are charged when you’re using this solution, depending on your bank. Therefore, you’d need to check with your bank about all the fees you’d face, keeping in mind that some functionalities are free.
The issuance of the basic debit card, the annual membership fee and the utilization fee at the ATM of the issuing bank are fee-free. At the ATMs of other banks, of course, would be subject to fees.
Accepted Currencies
Considering this is a global solution, you should have had no doubts that Canadian dollars would be your option. All of the currencies of the accepted countries are at users’ disposal.
In case you wish to use a different currency than the Canadian dollar, you’d need to contact your bank, since first, you’d need to open a foreign currency account to do so.
Coverage
Most countries globally accept Maestro, and you’ll find it in over 100 of them, Canada included. The card is an option across most regulated online gambling markets, so you’ll also find it in the UK, of course, Italy, India, Argentina, the Netherlands, Serbia and Romania, to name a few.
Some of the countries that do not accept it include Brazil, China, Denmark, Ireland and Greece. Players from these countries won’t be able to use it, but you, as a Canadian player, most certainly will.
Customer Support
Since this is a debit card network, as you’d suspect, if you’d need some assistance, you’d need to contact the issuing bank. Sure, you can also visit MasterCard’s official website to find out more about the Maestro brand, or even use its Customer Support service, but the best way to get help is to get in touch with the Support team at your bank. They should be able to help you out with anything you need regarding the card.
The casino’s Support agents are also always at your disposal, especially if you’re experiencing issues with your deposits or cashouts. Make sure you get in touch with them, too, especially if you need assistance or guidance on how to make deposits/withdrawals with the solution.
Conclusion
There’s no reason why you should not at least try using Maestro as your online casino payment method, especially if you’re already a Maestro debit card holder. You’d just need to take out your card, join a casino, enter the needed card details and make an instant deposit right away. The solution is accepted in Canada, allows for transactions in Canadian dollars and is issued by most, if not all, Canadian banks. Therefore, if already a cardholder, make sure you give the card a try the first chance you get; you’ll surely love the convenience, efficiency and ease of use this card offers.
FAQs
If the Maestro debit card is accepted deposits, is it also offered for withdrawals by default?
No, not really. Even though you’ll see its logo on the Banking/Payment Methods page, that doesn’t mean that it would be accepted for withdrawals by default. You’d need to double-check with the casino whether it is an option for cashouts.
Will I get any special bonus offers for choosing to deposit with this debit card?
As a matter of fact, Canadian casinos tend to offer players bonus offers crafted specifically for Maestro users. You might need to look harder to find one, but you’ll certainly do.
Is the prepaid card reloadable?
Yes, it is. You’d need to visit an authorized prepaid card issuer and provide the money you’d want to reload the card with.
Do online casinos charge extra fees for depositing with the card?
No, not really. Fees are usually only charged by the banks, and casinos rarely charge fees for using credit/debit cards. Make surer you double-check the fact, though, just to be safe, before you join the casino you wanted to.
What are some other Canadian casinos I could consider joining that accept Maestro?
In addition to the ones mentioned, you also have Voodoo Casino, 21Casino, 1Red Casino, EuroGrand, CasinoJax and Luxury Casino, to name a few, but most, if not all, of the casinos listed here on our site really, accept it.
