Mastercard set for return to Russian gambling market

Financial services corporation Mastercard is set to reopen its processing services to the Russian gambling market.

According to Betting Business Russia, Mastercard will return to the country later in the year, with Russian-licensed online bookmakers able to use Mastercard to pay out winnings to customers.

Mastercard will reportedly use the MCC 7995 transaction code to add Russia to the list of countries where it can process gambling-related transactions.

Leon, one of just a handful of online gambling companies that holds a licence in Russia, has reacted positively to the move, saying that the return of Mastercard will boost the national market.

The bookmaker said in a statement that this will “undoubtedly positively affect the progress of legal online betting in Russia” and enable companies licensed in the country to compete with “the best representatives of Western European regulated betting jurisdiction”.

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