What Is MCC 7995
MCC 7995 is the Merchant Category Code used by Visa and Mastercard to identify merchants in the gambling industry: online casinos, sports betting platforms, lotteries, and totalizator services.
This is one of the most restricted MCCs globally: the majority of issuing banks block it by default. If you try to make a deposit on a gaming platform, your bank will most likely decline the transaction before it even reaches the merchant.
Why Most Banks Block MCC 7995
Regulatory requirements. Online gambling is prohibited or strictly regulated in many countries. Banks in these jurisdictions are legally required to block transfers to gaming platforms — it's a regulatory mandate, not just policy.
High chargeback risk. Players who lose money often attempt to dispute the transaction through their bank. High chargeback rates make MCC 7995 unattractive for issuers.
Social responsibility policies. Some banks proactively block gambling payments as a voluntary consumer protection measure.
Card network rules. Visa and Mastercard have special rules for gambling merchants requiring issuers to make an explicit decision: allow or block MCC 7995. The vast majority of banks choose to block.
What You Can Do
1. Check the legal landscape. First, confirm that online betting is legal in your country. Using workarounds for illegal gambling creates legal exposure.
2. Look for licensed operators in your jurisdiction. In some countries, licensed local gaming operators are served by domestic banks without restrictions.
3. Use a card from a foreign issuer. In jurisdictions where online gambling is legal, cards from local banks may not carry MCC 7995 blocks. Virtual cards from foreign issuers can be an option.
4. Use alternative payment methods. Many gaming platforms accept cryptocurrency, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), or bank transfers — bypassing card network restrictions.
5. Check your card settings. In some countries and at select banks, unblocking MCC 7995 is possible via the app or a support call — but this is more the exception than the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all transactions on gaming sites go through MCC 7995? Not always. Some platforms process payments through a different MCC (e.g., a financial services processor), but this is rare. Most licensed casinos and betting operators use MCC 7995.
Will the block freeze my funds if I already have a deposit on the platform? No. MCC 7995 only blocks new incoming transactions. Withdrawing funds from the platform back to your card is technically not affected by the issuer's MCC block.
Are there cards that allow MCC 7995 by default? Yes — some issuers, primarily in jurisdictions where gambling is legal, don't block this code by default. It's best to confirm this with the issuer before relying on it.
Looking for a card that works for international payments? Marix — virtual cards built for cross-border use.