Mastercard Partnered With Tamatem for Gaming Payments
The collaboration integrates Mastercard Gateway into the Tamatem Plus platform to streamline regional transactions.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Gaming
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Mastercard has partnered with gaming publisher Tamatem to provide payment gateway services for the Tamatem Plus platform. This expansion aims to simplify the fragmented payments landscape across more than 13 markets in the Middle East and Africa.
Why it matters
The integration addresses significant hurdles in the regional gaming market by consolidating various payment options into one infrastructure. By streamlining these transactions, the move supports gaming companies looking to reach a broader audience through localized storefronts.
Tamatem Plus currently supports over 50 local payment methods and powers more than 30 localized storefronts. The rollout of this new payment infrastructure begins in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The players
Mastercard
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry that provides transaction processing services.
Tamatem
Tamatem is a mobile game publisher focused on the Arabic-speaking market and the developer of the Tamatem Plus platform.
The details
Tamatem Plus utilizes the Mastercard Merchant Cloud platform to integrate the Mastercard Gateway, allowing gamers to use cards, alternative payment methods, and telco wallet balances. This setup aims to resolve payment fragmentation for developers operating across the Middle East and Africa.
Timeline
Tamatem was founded in 2013.
The MENA gaming market reached a value of $7.1 billion in 2025.
The partnership was officially announced on October 7, 2026.
Culture Shift
The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward hyper-localization in emerging digital markets. By tailoring payment infrastructure to local preferences, companies are successfully moving beyond the constraints of global, one-size-fits-all financial solutions.
Gamers in the region will gain access to a more reliable checkout experience when using their preferred local payment methods or telco wallets. This standardization simplifies purchasing digital goods across more than 30 storefronts in the Middle East and Africa.
The takeaway
Reliable payment gateways are essential for maintaining user engagement in fragmented regional markets. Companies that successfully integrate diverse local payment methods are better positioned to capture value in rapidly growing gaming hubs.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving digital landscape, visit the Gaming section.
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