Overview
CentaPay maintains a list of business types that are either prohibited or restricted from using our payment services. This list reflects our regulatory obligations, acquiring bank requirements, card scheme rules, and internal risk appetite.
- Prohibited — not supported under any circumstances.
- Restricted — may be supported subject to enhanced due diligence and specific terms, at our sole discretion.
This list is not exhaustive. CentaPay reserves the right to decline any business type where necessary to comply with applicable law, regulation, or contractual obligations.
Prohibited categories
- Businesses domiciled in Kazakhstan, including online platforms, apps, e-commerce businesses, and service providers
- Kazakhstan-domiciled sub-merchants of any Platform Client, or Kazakhstan-domiciled sellers on any marketplace Client
- Gambling, gaming, betting, lottery, casino, and skill-based competitions (licensed or unlicensed)
- Unlicensed financial services, including money transmission, lending, or investment
- Adult content, escort services, or sexually explicit material
- Controlled substances, narcotics, or drug paraphernalia
- Weapons, ammunition, or explosives
- Counterfeit goods, IP infringement, or pirated content
- Pyramid schemes, MLM (recruitment-based revenue), or Ponzi schemes
- Cryptocurrency exchanges, ICOs, or unregulated token sales
- Shell companies or entities with no identifiable commercial activity
- Binary options, spread betting, or CFDs
- Tobacco, e-cigarettes, or vaping products
- Debt collection agencies
- Bail bond services
- Products or services subject to trade sanctions or export controls
Prohibited MCCs
| MCC | Description |
|---|---|
| 5933 | Pawn shops |
| 5937 | Antique reproductions |
| 5962 | Direct marketing — travel (high fraud) |
| 5966 | Outbound telemarketing |
| 5967 | Inbound teleservices |
| 5993 | Cigar stores and stands |
| 6051 | Non-FI foreign currency / money orders |
| 6211 | Security brokers and dealers |
| 6532 | Stored value load |
| 7273 | Dating and escort services |
| 7295 | Babysitting services |
| 7800 | Government-owned lottery |
| 7801 | Government-licensed online casinos |
| 7802 | Government-licensed horse/dog racing |
| 7995 | Gambling — betting, casino chips, wagering |
| 9222 | Fines |
| 9223 | Bail and bond payments |
Restricted categories
Accepted subject to enhanced due diligence, additional documentation, and specific terms. At CentaPay's sole discretion.
- Travel agencies, tour operators, and booking platforms
- Digital goods, in-app purchases, and virtual currencies (non-crypto)
- Subscription services with recurring billing
- Nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, and wellness products
- Telemedicine and online pharmacy (licensed)
- Age-restricted goods
- Precious metals, gemstones, and jewellery
- Timeshare and vacation ownership
- Charitable organisations and fundraising platforms
- Legal services and law firms
- High-value goods requiring enhanced fraud screening
Restricted MCCs
| MCC | Description |
|---|---|
| 4722 | Travel agencies and tour operators |
| 4816 | Computer network / information services |
| 5122 | Drugs, druggist sundries |
| 5192 | Books, periodicals, newspapers |
| 5399 | General merchandise (misc) |
| 5816 | Digital goods — games |
| 5817 | Digital goods — applications |
| 5818 | Digital goods — large merchant |
| 5912 | Drug stores and pharmacies |
| 5944 | Jewellery, watches, silverware |
| 5964 | Direct marketing — catalogue |
| 5968 | Direct marketing — subscription |
| 5969 | Direct marketing — other |
| 7012 | Timeshares |
| 7922 | Theatrical producers / ticket agencies |
| 8099 | Health practitioners (NEC) |
| 8398 | Charitable / social service organisations |
General prohibitions
CentaPay will also not process transactions that:
- involve sanctioned persons, entities, or jurisdictions;
- relate to money laundering, terrorist financing, or proceeds of crime;
- involve goods or services illegal in the buyer's or seller's jurisdiction;
- do not correspond to a genuine sale of goods or services; or
- would breach our regulatory or contractual obligations.
Review process
If your business falls into a restricted category or you are unsure whether your business type is supported, please contact us before submitting an application.
This list is reviewed periodically and may be updated to reflect changes in regulatory obligations, acquiring bank requirements, card scheme rules, or risk appetite.
Contact
Questions about whether your business is supported?
CentaPay Limited · AIFC, Astana, Kazakhstan
info@centapay.com →