• Mastercard credit cards can no longer be used at HorseTourneys and HorsePlayers for deposits
• It also appears that some Visa credit card issuers are now treating transactions in our category as cash advances
• Players who have used credit cards should consider moving to ACH, debit cards or PayPal

Last week, it was announced that a major online sports and fantasy platform would stop accepting all credit card deposits in connection with its sports betting platform.

Days later, we at HorseTourneys received notice from Mastercard that it would no longer accept credit card payments in connection with our transactions. Please note that as of now, Mastercard credit cards are no longer accepted at HorseTourneys or HorsePlayers. Debit cards are fine, but Mastercard credit cards can no longer be used.

Furthermore, we are receiving reports that some Visa credit card issuers are now treating transactions related to our category as cash advances. All of these developments indicate a change in policy on the part of Mastercard and Visa.

A statement from the sports and fantasy platform indicated that its move was being made to reduce/eliminate fees involved with credit card tranasctions (since many card issuers treat such transactions as cash advances, which can trigger significant fees) and to proactively protect players from overuse of credit in association with gaming-related activities.

But industry experts also suggested that operators have been under pressure from both regulators and state governments to do more to protect consumers from the pitfalls of problem gaming.

It stands to reason that the move by Mastercard is one the other card issuers may follow. As a result, we want to be proactive in both notifying our customers of this, as well as encouraging you to use other forms of deposit. Simply put, it’s entirely possible that at some point in the future, credit cards deposits of any kind won’t be available. If you’re still using a credit card for depositing at HorseTourneys or HorsePlayers, you should be considering other options now.

ACH bank transfer is by far the most advantageous mode of deposit for players. ACH deposits carry no transaction fees at all and to boot, we give you a 1 percent deposit bonus on those deposits. Players that used cards in the past have moved in droves to ACH.

Debit cards are also never in danger of being an issue for use, and can be used across all card brands with confidence.

Bank accounts may also be used via PayPal. Players may also continue to fund PayPal account balances and then use those funds for deposit at HorseTourneys. Instructions for doing that are here.

Clearly, its very important for us to make it as easy as possible for you to deposit funds here at HorseTourneys. If you have questions or problems, feel free to contact us.

McKay
President
HorseTourneys.com

It was a holiday weekend of sustained excellence for Geoffrey Schutt.

Beginning September 2, 2025, please note that Mastercard credit cards may no longer be used to deposit directly at HorseTourneys.

This is the result of Mastercard changing the policies regarding how it categorizes horse racing wagering sites per credit-specific transactions.

Please note that customers may continue to use Mastercard debit cards directly on the site.

John Nichols has never NOT been around the racetrack. His mother and father took him to Churchill Downs for the first time in 1975 — when he was four days old. Dad was a horseshoer and a skilled horseman. John’s uncle Jimmy Nichols was a prominent jockey who later was instrumental in the sales purchase of eventual 1988 Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Risen Star. The racetrack life was the only life John knew, and that largely holds true today.

There was a highly influential cap horse out there on Sunday—Harcyn, who survived a stewards’ inquiry and took race 5 at Del Mar at odds of 40-1. If you had the bomb you had a chance to do well. If you used Harcyn and played in multiple featured tourneys, you had a chance to do very, very well. Several players did just that.

One of them was Sean Nolan.

Dylan Donnelly has qualified for the NHC each of the past six years. In the five most recent renewals, he has played two entries. That will again be the case in 2026. This year, however, he is bidding for an NHC Tour championship.

Sunday was a chalky day around here. The day’s top winner among 12 contest races returned just $11.40 in the win hole.

Stephen Spinelli didn’t even have that 9-2 victor—and yet that didn’t stop him from having a banner afternoon.

The daily grind can be a mundane, soul-crushing pursuit…a pie-eating contest for which the prize is more pie. Unless, of course, you’re Eldon Stivers.

David Nelson made three really good decisions on Saturday. He hit the day’s biggest price—Concrete Glory ($25.60, $11.20) in the 10th at Saratoga; he played multiple featured tourneys; and perhaps most importantly, he used the same picks on all of his entries…even though most of the marquee games were conducted in Live format.

When the smoke had cleared, Nelson had scored six lucrative victories.

Friday may have been our nation’s 249th birthday, but for 2018 The BIG One champion Joe Pettit, Saturday was truly the day to celebrate.