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.
\n \n \nYou 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.
\n \n \nGlobal 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.
\n \n \nWhen 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?
\n \n \nThe 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.
\n \n \nLatin 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.
\n \n \nSomewhere 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.
\n \n \nMore 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.
\n \n \nArtificial intelligence can write a contract in seconds, but that does not mean it can write the contract your business actually needs.\r\n\r\nAcross 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.\r\nThat polished appearance is exactly what makes the practice dangerous.
\n \n \nYou log in to your payment processor’s dashboard, discover they are withholding 10% of your sales, and immediately assume something has gone wrong.\r\n\r\nIn reality, everything is working exactly as intended.
\n \n \nOur 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.
\n \n \nSince 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.
\n \n \nMatch 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.
\n \n \nFor 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.
\n \n \nChoosing 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.
\n \n \nSavannah 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.
\n \n \nThere 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.
\n \n \nThe 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.
\n \n \nLong 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.
\n \n \nFor 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.
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