Gaming and digital goods merchant category codes
Digital games and in game purchases use merchant category code 5816, digital media such as ebooks, films and music use 5815, apps and software downloads use 5817 and mixed digital stores use 5818. These codes describe video gaming and digital content. Gambling has separate codes and is not something eCom Pay processes.
Merchant category codes for gaming and digital goods
The codes businesses in this sector come across most. Your provider sets the code when your account is opened, based on what you tell them about how you trade.
| Code | Industry | More |
|---|---|---|
| 5816 | Digital games and in game purchases | Ecommerce payments |
| 5815 | Digital media, ebooks, films and music | Ecommerce payments |
| 5817 | Apps and software downloads | Ecommerce payments |
| 5818 | Digital goods, mixed categories | Ecommerce payments |
| 7994 | Arcades and gaming venues | Hospitality payments |
| 7993 | Arcade and amusement machine supplies | Hospitality payments |
Gaming is not gambling
Video games, esports, in game items and game subscriptions are a different business from betting, and the card schemes give them different codes. Making that distinction clear from the start is what gets a gaming business treated as a gaming business.
Small payments, high volume
Digital goods are often low value and bought in bursts after a release or an update. The account should expect those spikes rather than flag them. Saved cards and one click purchases keep in game spending smooth for players.
Fraud and friendly fraud
The biggest dispute risk in gaming is a parent who did not know a child was spending, or a player who regrets a purchase. Purchase confirmations, spending limits and clear descriptors on statements prevent most of it.
Card payments for gaming and digital goods, opinions from our specialists
Short views from our specialists, published to start a conversation. Agree or disagree, tell them on LinkedIn.
Gaming merchants lose more to friendly fraud than to stolen cards. Spend your effort on clear receipts, purchase confirmations and parental controls before you add another fraud filter.
I would put parental controls first, not last. The family that finds an unexpected charge is the dispute you can prevent before it starts.
What to check in a card payments setup for gaming and digital goods
Three questions worth asking any provider, and the eCom Pay answer.
Spikes treated as normal
Release day volume expected, not flagged.
Saved cards and one click
Tokenised cards for in game purchases.
Clear statement descriptors
The game name players recognise on their statement.
Questions about merchant category codes for gaming and digital goods
What is the MCC for video games?
Digital games and in game purchases use 5816. Arcades and gaming venues use 7994.
What MCC do apps and software downloads use?
Apps and software downloads use 5817, digital media such as ebooks, films and music use 5815, and mixed digital stores use 5818.
Does eCom Pay process gambling?
No. eCom Pay works with video gaming, esports and digital entertainment, not gambling or betting.
More industry guides
Card payments for gaming and digital goods, set up properly
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