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Feature Articles

opinion

What Mastercard's Scam Monitoring Program Means for Adult Merchants

Mastercard's Scam Merchant Monitoring Program (SMMP) has introduced a new, investigation-led framework that works very differently from the ratio-based chargeback programs the industry has relied on for years. It applies to card-not-present merchants globally, and Mastercard's guidance on business models warranting closer attention includes adult content and dating platforms, along with subscription services, digital goods and forex.

Len Garcia ·
opinion

Why the Right Merchant Category Code Matters for NSFW AI Businesses

You explained exactly what your NSFW AI business does to your payment processor and they seemed to get it. The underwriting process felt thorough and exhausting, but it was well worth it because you began processing.

Jonathan Corona ·
trends

How Local Payments Can Expand Access and Reduce Friction at Checkout

Global adult platforms often enter new markets with a familiar assumption: If their checkout accepts major cards, they're ready for local customers. In reality, payment habits vary widely by country. Dutch consumers use iDEAL for online shopping, BLIK is a leading e-commerce payment method in Poland, and India's UPI handles billions of transactions each month.

Mitch Platt ·
opinion

How Detailed Receipts Build Consumer Trust and Reduce Chargeback

When was the last time you bought something online? Chances are you looked for the confirmation almost immediately. Did the transaction go through? Does it show what you bought? Were you charged correctly? And if there's a problem, who can you contact?

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

What Adult Platforms Should Know About the EU AI Act

The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act is now largely in force, creating new obligations for adult platforms using AI for content creation, performer verification, age estimation, moderation and other functions.

Corey Silverstein ·
opinion

How Native Spanish Speakers Help Pleasure Brands Expand Across Latin America

Latin America's Spanish-speaking markets represent an exciting growth opportunity for the pleasure products industry. Across the region, conversations about sexual wellness are becoming more open, specialty retailers are expanding their assortments and shoppers are seeking products that reflect their lifestyles and values.

Rin Musick ·
opinion

Why Retail Expertise Is Essential When AI Tools Analyze Store Data

Somewhere in one of our stores, someone scanned a barcode into a quantity field. The number entered was 8,388,607. At $19.99 per unit, that made a single line item worth roughly $167 million. The number was so large that the import failed immediately.

Zondre Watson ·
profile

Vendo CEO Mitch Platt Reflects on 20 Years of Lessons and Evolution

More than 20 years ago, three entrepreneurs in Barcelona began gathering over beers to pitch, dissect and routinely destroy one another's business ideas. The ritual was simple: One person arrived with a concept, while the other two tried to expose every weakness. Any proposal that survived earned another look. Most did not.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

How to Avoid the Hidden Risks of AI-Generated Legal Documents

Artificial intelligence can write a contract in seconds, but that does not mean it can write the contract your business actually needs. Across the adult industry, operators, creators and producers are increasingly using generative AI to prepare model releases, performer agreements, privacy policies, takedown notices, employment documents and responses to regulators. The appeal is obvious: Legal work is expensive, AI is fast and the resulting document often looks impressively professional. That polished appearance is exactly what makes the practice dangerous.

Corey Silverstein ·
opinion

How Rolling Reserves Affect Cash Flow and Merchant Stability

You log in to your payment processor’s dashboard, discover they are withholding 10% of your sales, and immediately assume something has gone wrong. In reality, everything is working exactly as intended.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

What Federal Age Verification Could Mean for Adult Websites

Our industry has grappled with a patchwork of confusing and burdensome state age verification laws for the past couple of years. But that landscape could change quickly after the House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act (H.R. 7757) by a vote of 267-117, marking a significant federal step into this space.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

The Website Footer Requirements Every Adult Merchant Should Know

Since I started in this business 25 years ago, I've watched website footers evolve from a simple collection of links designed to help with SEO into important tools for meeting compliance and regulatory requirements, improving the customer experience and reducing chargebacks.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Why E-Payment Diversification Matters for Merchant Stability

Match payment methods to your customers. Look at where your customers are located, how they prefer to pay and which products they purchase. A business with significant European traffic may benefit from SEPA or Pay by Bank, while a subscription-based business may prioritize ACH or cryptocurrency. Add the payment methods your customers are most likely to use, as not every option is available.

Jonathan Corona ·
trends

AI at Work: The Tools and Practices Powering Creativity, Commerce and Compliance

For years, artificial intelligence felt like the plot of a science-fiction movie. Pop culture gave us Skynet from “The Terminator,” the replicants of “Blade Runner” and countless visions of machines replacing human creativity altogether. AI was cast as either humanity's next great breakthrough or the beginning of a dystopian future.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Key Questions Online Merchants Should Know About PCI Compliance

Choosing a payment provider involves more than comparing features and pricing. It's also about trusting that your customers' payment information is being handled securely. Every August, Segpay is recertified as a Level 1 PCI-compliant service provider, a milestone the company has achieved for the past 20 years. Having helped write Segpay's original PCI policy documents more than two decades ago, I've seen firsthand how PCI compliance has evolved.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

New Moon Network's Savannah Sly on Turning Lived Experience Into Advocacy

Savannah Sly is the first to admit she didn't always understand sex work. At 18, she was an art student in Boston, working part-time at a box office and, as she puts it, "broke as a joke." While looking for ways to make ends meet, she often found herself browsing Craigslist's adult ads, intrigued by the women advertising their services.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

How to Safeguard Your Website Against CIPA Claims

There is a new wave of lawsuits targeting online businesses, including adult websites. These suits involve the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), and they are becoming increasingly prevalent. In fact, three different clients of my law firm were recently served or threatened with CIPA lawsuits — all in the same week.

Nick Zargarpour ·
opinion

How Clear Talent Contracts Can Save Time and Money

The adult industry has always been defined by its ability to evolve. It embraced online distribution before much of mainstream entertainment did, pioneered subscription-based business models, and continues to evolve in areas ranging from streaming to AI.

Corey Silverstein ·
profile

Jerkmate's Lili L. on Dropping Beats to Fuel Creator Success

Long before joining the Jerkmate team as a marketing strategist, Lili L. was the kind of person who always felt like she needed a new challenge.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

What Mastercard's Specialty Fee Overhaul Means for Merchants

For business owners in the adult and specialty spaces, the rules have always been written in someone else’s office. The latest Mastercard changes are no exception, though there are practical ways merchants can begin preparing now.

Jonathan Corona ·
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