Home » MCC (Merchant Category Code)

MCC (Merchant Category Code)

Content on MCC (merchant category code) and how it drives underwriting, pricing and approval rates in high-risk payments. We explain how MCCs classify merchant activity, affect acquirer risk appetite and scheme programs, and when regulators/schemes require specific MCCs (separate MIDs for sub-verticals, PayFac sub-merchant coding). Practical playbooks cover: correct coding and evidence (site/flows/ToS), approval-rate optimization by MCC, local vs cross-border acquiring, 3DS/SCA strategy by risk, descriptor clarity, and dispute exposure.
High-risk examples include 7995 (betting/gaming), 6211 (securities/CFD/FX) and 6051 (quasi-cash). We also discuss BIN/issuer-geo rules, MCC-based routing/filters, network monitoring thresholds, and audit-readiness for acquirer reviews.

Best-practice checklist related to MCC (merchant category code):

  • Confirm MCC during onboarding; avoid miscoding that triggers non-compliance/fines.

  • Use separate MIDs per MCC when models differ (e.g., gambling vs marketplace payouts).

  • Tune risk rules by MCC (velocity, prepaid rules, geofencing) and align 3DS exemptions carefully.

  • Track KPIs by MCC: auth rate, soft vs hard declines, dispute ratio, refund-before-dispute rate.

  • Keep processor documentation and screenshots to support assigned MCC during audits.

Authoritative outbound resources

Multi-Provider Payment Gateway: Reducing Declines with Smart PSP Orchestration

Illustration of a high-risk payment gateway with smart PSP orchestration showing card, warning icon, and security shield on a monitor.
Adult, Dating Payment Insights, CBD Payment Insights, Crypto Payment Insights, Forex, CFD, Binary Options Payment Insights, Global Payment Acceptance, iGaming Payment Insights, Industry-Specific Payment Solutions, Online Payment Integration /

Declined payments are more than a technical glitch — they’re lost conversions, frustrated users, and lower LTV. In high-risk industries like iGaming, dating, crypto, and Forex, decline rates can easily exceed 30%, especially when relying on a single PSP. That’s why leading merchants are adopting multi-provider payment gateway architectures powered by smart PSP orchestration platforms. These systems intelligently route transactions, apply fallback logic, and monitor performance — all with one goal: decline rate optimization.

In this article, we show how to reduce failed payments using orchestration strategies and real-world routing logic, without rebuilding your stack.

Multi-Provider Payment Gateway: Reducing Declines with Smart PSP Orchestration Read More »