Skilled Gaming Payment Processing.
Right MCC. Right PSP.
Real-money skill games sit between gaming and gambling, and most processors won't take the time to tell the difference. We match skill-game, esports and competition operators with PSPs registered for the category. Free to you.
How do skill gaming platforms get a merchant account? Through a PSP that is registered for skill-based gaming with the card schemes. Visa places skill-based gaming in Tier 2 of its Integrity Risk Program, so acquirers must register these merchants. Your game must also genuinely be decided by skill. ICPay matches skill-game operators with PSPs that accept them, for free.
Last updated 15 October 2026
Why skill-game operators get declined
To a mainstream risk team, entry fees plus prizes looks like gambling. Explaining otherwise takes evidence, and the right PSP.
- Treated as gambling and asked for a gambling licence you don't need
- Placed under the wrong MCC, then flagged in a scheme review
- Payouts to winners blocked even when deposits are approved
- PSPs that won't pay the scheme registration fees for a single merchant
What a skilled gaming PSP will check
Have these ready before introduction. It's the single biggest factor in how fast you go live.
Skill, not chance
In Great Britain, "gaming" means playing a game of chance for a prize (Gambling Act 2005, s.6). If chance can influence the result, it can be treated as gambling. Expect to evidence how outcomes are decided.
Legal opinion
Many PSPs ask for a legal opinion confirming the product is skill-based in each market you serve.
Geo-blocking
Controls that block players in jurisdictions where your format isn't permitted.
Age and identity checks
KYC on players, particularly before payouts.
Deposit and payout flows
How entry fees are collected, how prizes are paid and how funds are segregated.
Company and director KYB
Incorporation documents, director and UBO ID and proof of address, 3 to 6 months of statements.
What skilled gaming merchants typically pay
No PSP will quote before underwriting. Here's what to expect, so you can spot a bad offer.
| Term | Typical range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Card processing rate | Commonly 3% to 6% per transaction | Volume, ticket size and dispute history move this most. |
| Rolling reserve | Commonly 5% to 10%, held 90 to 180 days | Negotiable. Clean processing history is the fastest way to reduce it. |
| Chargeback ceiling | Visa: 1.5% (VAMP, from April 2026). Mastercard: 1.5% and 100+ chargebacks a month (ECM). | PSPs usually act before you hit these. Many intervene around 1%. |
| Time to live | Introduction within 48 hours. Onboarding typically 5 to 10 business days. | Complete documents on day one is the biggest time saver. |
| Scheme registration | Visa VIRP Tier 2 (skill-based gaming). Visa registration costs the acquirer $950 a year per merchant. | Some PSPs pass this cost on. Ask before you sign. |
Indicative market ranges from published industry sources, not a quote. Your terms depend on volume, history, chargeback ratio and jurisdiction.
How ICPay places skilled gaming merchants
Applying direct vs going through ICPay
| Applying direct | Through ICPay | |
|---|---|---|
| Which PSPs | ✕ Whoever ranks on Google | ✓ PSPs that already accept skilled gaming merchants |
| PSPs that don't take direct applications | ✕ No access | ✓ Included |
| Underwriting | ✕ Generic queue, no context | ✓ Briefed before the first call |
| If the first PSP says no | ✕ Start again | ✓ Alternatives ready |
| Cost to you | Your time | ✓ £0. We're paid by the PSP |
Skilled gaming payment processing: FAQs
Is skill gaming the same as gambling?
Not if the result is genuinely decided by skill. In Great Britain, gaming means playing a game of chance for a prize, and a game where chance can influence the result may be treated as gambling however much skill is involved.
Which MCC do skill games use?
Card schemes treat skill-based gaming separately from betting (MCC 7995). The correct code depends on your product and the PSP. Using the wrong one is a common reason accounts get closed.
Can a PSP handle winner payouts as well as deposits?
Yes. Tell us you need payouts and we'll only shortlist PSPs that support them in your markets.
Do I need a gambling licence?
Not for genuine skill games in many markets, but rules differ by country. A PSP will usually want a legal opinion for each market you serve.
What does ICPay charge?
Nothing. The PSP pays ICPay a commission after a successful introduction.
Get matched with a PSP that accepts skilled gaming merchants
Six fields. No documents yet. We review your details and come back within 48 hours with next steps.
Other verticals we place
Already lost your processor? Read what to do in the first 48 hours.
Read the guideSources: Gambling Commission: Skill with prizes · AllayPay: Visa Integrity Risk Program 2026 guide