However, the number of High-risk Merchants account providers for online gambling is limited, and it can be difficult to find one that can deliver reliably. 79%. , those with both physical and digital storefronts), Moonlight addresses the unique challenges faced by businesses in sectors like. Gaming Transactions you must use a fraud and risk management product or service acceptable. Offshore bank accounts offer benefits such as lower taxes, increased privacy, and expanded global reach. With the latest technology, speedy transactions, simpler refunds to players, we can program any relatable comfort for your. 10 Financial institutions in relationships with payment processors should establish clear lines of responsibility for controlling the associated risks. An online high risk merchant account will help you to accept alternative payment methods, such as prepaid debit cards, e-check for high risk businesses, ACH, and crypto payments, which are not accepted by standard merchant account prpcessors. It authorizes you to take the amount in various currencies and payment modes. Running a gambling business is riskier than selling clothing or. how businesses have managed customers’ accounts. Last updated or reviewed on June 21, 2023. With the strengths in placing high-risk businesses, this PaymentCloud brought the high-risk merchants a lot of benefits such as a network of third-party processors. The subsets contain 1-year of customer. Require a high risk registration. Skill gaming merchants should aim to secure an MCC7994 code. The new rules signify Visa is being less tolerant. C. G2 analysts have seen a recent increase in illegal gambling sites laundering their transactions through gadget sites—usually a simple site selling a few select items, often consumer electronics, power tools, or sporting goods. Payment industry professionals that represented organizations such as, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Association of Boards of. Encryption Support Organizations (ESO) Performs cryptographic key management services to support clients' ATM programs or to deploy Merchant Category Code. The list below shows all the products and services that are restricted or prohibited from using Adyen services for ‘ Merchant ’ business models and ‘ Platform / Partner business ’ models. Sales via Visa and Mastercard still lead the way for online gambling purchases, particularly in Europe. Fraudsters use other people’s cards, which may work but incur chargeback fees. marketing to locals in joint campaigns with local. The selection of merchants proposed for whitelisting is controlled by the Issuer; the Issuer will consider the industry type, the low risk of the merchant and also the purchasing history of the cardholder; for example, the Issuer may propose 10 merchants which a particular cardholder uses often and the Issuer may include merchants which. Let’s start by busting some myths and revealing common pitfalls with business risk management. states that allow such: New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. Durango Merchant Services is one of the oldest and best high-risk merchant service providers. Despite the high risk of online gambling merchant accounts, companies have a decent number of providers from which to choose. Description: Soar Payments offers credit card processing, eCheck, and ACH solutions to a wide range of merchants, but specializes in serving those considered to be high-risk or hard to place. 5122 – Drugs, Drug Proprietaries, and Druggist. Subscription “negative option” merchants (card-absent) MCC 5993. Dating and escort services. 9% +0. The terms of the contract may vary from provider to provider, but at the core of the agreement, they are covering their bases. Stripe. MCC 6211. With specialization and years of experience in working with all types of high-risk merchants, we give you the best experience. Supreme Court, that will allow intrastate sports betting in the U. It is vital to make sure all other aspects of your business are beyond reproach. SumUp, iZettle and Square prohibit lottery-, betting- and gambling-related sales, which could include bingo, Fantasy Football and casino services. net is a payment gateway company that provides payment processing options for businesses, especially small and independently-owned businesses. Merchant accounts allow your business to accept credit and debit cards online. Risk managers – sit up and take notice. The criteria used to classify merchants are usually the industry type and the history of disputes and chargebacks. Conversely, low-risk merchant accounts. Thanks in no small part to the pandemic driven lockdowns of 2021, the gambling and gaming sectors experienced a boom in business as consumers flocked to betting platforms and online casinos. With an online gambling merchant account, online gambling and casino merchants can accept payments from customers in a variety of currencies and payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets. With Instabill, that’s a thing of the past. Signature Payments provides merchant accounts for a broad range of casino and gambling businesses. Based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Instabill has been covering the high-risk merchant space since 2001. If you still have questions regarding what we can do for you, give us a call at 1-888-548-5649 so you can converse with one of our merchant account managers. Ongoing Support. According to Statista, the global media and entertainment market is. That MCC regulates video game establishments and. ” Contact us today at (615) 476-0255 to sign up for a high-risk-merchant account. 0 bn market size for 2023 and projected growth of 1. It also involves continuous management of your payment processing solutions and making the appropriate adjustments along the way. Most acquiring banks view gambling as a high-risk sector, making it extremely difficult to establish an online gaming merchant account and payment gateway. The latter helps you to better identify the chargebacks. 7. With the latest technology, speedy transactions, simpler refunds to players, we can program any relatable comfort for your gambling business. 7273 – Dating Services. Some of them are:. Say goodbye to cumbersome processes and. 9% of total transactions. A merchant account is a contract between a company and a financial institution that allows the company to accept. Merchant account services. . A merchant may be considered high-risk for various reasons, including actual evidence like high chargeback rates, or guilt by association,. E-gaming companies operating an online casino need a merchant account in order to accept payments from their players. It provides a secure bridge for your #gambling_platform to #. Each merchant service provider received a rating based on over 50 data points. Casinos and gambling providers who have a loyalty program or CMS tracking gambling. 2%. Payment Gateways: Secure Solutions for Your Business. For our top picks, explore Expert Market’s guide to the best high risk merchant accounts in 2023. 5967 – Direct Marketing – Inbound Teleservices Merchant. Some customers might join your gaming service or website for a bit and then leave. 2 Merchant Risk 10 Questionable or Unsound Business Practices High-Brand Risk Merchants Sellers Involved in Fraud or Illicit Activity 4. Historically, merchants in high-risk categories have had few options for payments. It aims to make merchant risk management efficient and beneficial to any industry. An acquirer makes money by offering merchant accounts to businesses, allowing them to accept credit cards. You can find out more and apply online for our online gaming merchant accounts here . net payment gateway. For most online companies, there are no issues when it comes to securing merchant services, however companies dealing in these high-risk fields are met with many obstacles and difficulties when trying. Secondly, you have to set up in-app payments. Acquirers and PSPs should regularly compare merchants’ current behaviors with their initial expectations during the onboarding stage to ensure they still align. This pricing is very good in the high-risk. Gamblers Anonymous offers 12-step support meetings for people with a gambling problem, while Gam-Anon offers support for the problem gambler's family members. Verified by Visa is the card network-branded deployment of 3-D Secure technology. Moreover, PaySpacelv has highly effective technical service. . Merchants that are compliant with the Visa Rules and operate regulated and licensed trading platforms may continue to transact under MCC 6211—Security Brokers / Dealers. Especially acquirers with many high-risk merchants in their portfolio have to implement a solid monitoring framework. Host Merchant Services: Best for Interchange-Plus Pricing. As a result, merchants can skyrocket their sales. 10 Financial institutions in relationships with payment processors should establish clear lines of responsibility for controlling the associated risks. High Risk Merchant Account for Gaming Business. It will typically allow payments to be made via credit and debit card. 3% plus interchange if you’re among the low-risk merchants. Each merchant service provider received a rating based on over 50 data points. An offshore merchant bank account is one established for eCommerce companies in a non-resident country. . Payments Processors consider gambling merchant accounts to be high risk for a few reasons, including age restrictions, diverse global laws, high-volume turnover, higher-than-typical chargebacks, money laundering and fraud. The hardest part for online casinos is obtaining online gambling merchant accounts for credit card processing. Merchants that present a financial risk to the payment processor are assigned a high-risk MCC. Below, we explore how a merchant account for online gambling and casinos differs from a regular merchant account and what makes online gambling high risk. These tools can include enhanced security measures, real-time transaction monitoring, and fraud detection systems. Why is my business. Let’s collaborate, send us your article suggestions, questions, and/or feedback to: [email protected]. Show Summary. A unique license is used to randomize the play, which leads to provably fair. Average transaction of $500 or more. Paydoo: It supports merchants in cryptocurrency, travel and hospitality, forex, binary, gaming, ecommerce, and most other high-risk ventures. Soar Payments prides itself on exceptional customer service (Soar Payments agents are actually available on the phone to discuss. The word hazard was a name givven to a) a roadsign b) dice. Read on for everything you need to know about high-risk processing. Likely to have a rolling reserve attached to it. Some customers might join your gaming. com; Mon - Fri:. This article provides an overview of high-risk merchant accounts and what it means to. Best for high risk e-commerce businesses: Soar Payments. Online gambling, online dating and software/hardware sales are, for example, generally qualified as high-risk. High-integrity Risk Financial Trading Platforms (card-absent) MCC 5966. Warning signs of fraudulent sites. We will require additional documentation prior to onboarding. These companies include nutraceuticals, online dating services, travel agencies, etc. Our process is simple so you can focus on your business. 7995 – Betting, including Lottery Tickets, Casino Gaming Chips, Off-Track Betting, Wagers at Race Tracks and games of chance to win prizes of monetary value. Different high-risk businesses have different MCCs that match their products or services; for example, online gambling has an MCC of 7995, while adult entertainment has an MCC of 5967. Managing High-Risk Merchants. Lydia Thomas, a producer on Radio 4’s You and Yours, gave evidence to a 2019 House of Lords inquiry in which she described receiving data that showed “evidence of problem gambling, for example, gambling all night, on obscure sports, or using a range of. Settlement may be weekly. Internationally. 95% for normal merchant accounts. With G2 MCC Check you can. . A mobile merchant account is a type of payment processing account that allows businesses to accept payments from customers using their mobile devices. #1 PaymentCloud Strong Reputation For Fast Approvals. PayPal prohibits the following activities, even where the specific activity is lawful and/or isn’t legally defined as gambling, unless the transactions are associated with an approved merchant. PayKings. Get a secure payment processing solution in as little as 24 hours. Soar Payments. Source of funds (SoF) verification. At SeamlessChex, we provide solutions that help your business get back on track. especially if you’re a high-risk merchant. To get a high-risk merchant account, you need to go through several stages: 1. It would be best if you didn’t. Permit you to conduct business in both regulated and unregulated sectors. Games of chance and games of skill - Includes any activity with an entry fee and a prize, regardless of whether the outcome is determined by chance or. One of the benefits of a high-risk merchant account is that your payment gateway can offer many payment options. 000 euros. To discuss your payment management needs with one of our expert advisors. We don’t discriminate. A high-risk designation arises due to certain circumstances that affect a business, not necessarily the type of business it is. A high-risk merchant account operates as a specialized business account for high-risk businesses. The changes are going to force merchants, particularly those in high risk industries, to re-think their chargeback strategies. Durango Merchant Services: Best for highest-risk businesses. Average card transaction is below $500. If your business sells expensive, high-ticket items, you are most likely in the high-risk category. Payspacelv specializes in high-risk industries, so it can be the ideal solution for the gambling enterprise, taking into account the minimal rate of processing charged by the company – from 1. High Risk Pay offers high-risk merchant accounts and payment gateway solutions to businesses from all verticals. Learn who needs high-risk merchant accounts, what the main differences between high-risk and low-risk merchants are, the benefits of holding an offshore merchant account, and how to open a high-risk merchant account. Chargeback fraud: iGaming sites often act as e-wallets, where players can deposit funds using credit cards. Merchants belonging to high-brand risk merchant category codes, as defined in the Visa Rules, are only eligible to participate in the High-Risk Internet payment facilitator program. eMerchant Broker: Best for High Approval Rate. In order to get and maintain good standing with your service provider, you must meet. The risk is raised on gambling, gaming and fantasy sports businesses because the merchant account provider takes on the potential risk of paying any refunds, fees, or fines merchants are unable to pay due to going bankrupt or getting forced into closing. The following additional terms and conditions apply to you where you are a gambling or gaming sector merchant. Businesses that are classified as high-risk need a high-risk merchant account to transact and receive payments. This allows payment processors to take on risk but have a mechanism in place to prevent financial loss. These can all be flags for a high risk merchant account. Definitions and Interpretation 1. The proliferation of gambling opportunities worldwide, including continuous online gambling, has generated concern over how to protect individuals and families from harm caused by excessive spending. Managing a gambling account is very important, as it involves transactions of huge sums every day. With the strengths in placing high-risk businesses, this PaymentCloud brought the high-risk merchants a lot of benefits such as a network of third-party processors. We help companies who need to acquire an online gaming merchant account and run a sustainable business. By Anna Zotova, Chief Risk Officer, xpate. Easy Pay Direct: Best for Scaling High-Risk Businesses. Finding the right merchant account can be a challenge for online gambling companies. Bogus “gadget” websites are putting merchant acquirers at risk for card network fines and assessments. This includes a failure to have a customer interaction policy in place until 2015, and no specific provision for VIP or high-value customers in place until 2017. A high-risk industry is defined by its likelihood to introduce more operational, regulatory, and reputational risk exposure. Among past. These accounts come with tailored risk management and rigorous underwriting processes to mitigate the elevated risks associated with such businesses. Many banks are now working on plans to help customers restrict their spending on gambling, offering gambling blocking solutions, with some banks allowing customers to 'turn off' payments to certain types of retailer, including. The overall online gambling industry is predicted to balloon to $525 billion in revenues by 2023. . Let’s get one thing straight, being considered a high-risk merchant (or what we like to refer to as higher risk) isn’t always a bad thing. By offering alternative payment options, casinos can cater to the diverse preferences of their players and provide a seamless deposit and withdrawal experience. We provide assistance with locating merchant accounts at top European banks. Businesses change – moving into different industries, taking on new staff, partnering with new clients – and each change exposes their PayFacs to different risks and vulnerabilities. With a high average sale amount, the more “risk” there is to the processor in the event of charge backs. EMB also helps many high-risk and new merchants who were rejected by other processors. One key area where they differ is their willingness to accept risk. Typical reasons for this label is that your account is considered to be at a higher risk of fraud, chargebacks, or a high number of returns. PayPal is especially strict with these services due to state regulations on gambling. 0 M+. With an increasing rise in the popularity of online gambling, you may be considering opening a business of your own in the industry. We understand the unique challenges of your business and can provide you with the right merchant account that will meet all your needs. ISO High Risk (ISO –HR) Contracts with an acquirer to provide merchant solicitation, sales, customer service, merchant transaction solicitation and/or customer training to "high– brand risk merchants". Understanding High-Risk Merchants. Besides equipping your gambling merchant account with chargeback prevention tools, think of embracing chargeback monitoring and alerts. High-integrity Risk Financial Trading Platforms (card-absent) MCC 5966. Those serious about acquiring gambling merchants need to take it seriously. Non-compliance with Visa Global Acquirer Risk Standards Questionable Agents 4. Below is an inexhaustive list of each high-risk industry and its correlating merchant category code: High-Risk Industry (A-F) MCC. While the codes of 7994 and 7999 are considered medium risk, 7995 is. The following additional terms and conditions apply to you where you are a gambling or gaming sector merchant. g. PayKings (Merchant Payments Acceptance Corp LLC) is your powerful partner in global transaction Low, Medium, and High Risk Merchant Accounts processing. Best merchant services in 2023. This includes CBD and Kratom businesses. Our Custom Risk management solutions allow us to detect fraud at a very early stage, while applying a sophisticated risk assessment on all levels. 1. #3. The company has an excellent reputation for honesty, fair rates, and great customer service. This symbol indicates that your products or services offering is restricted. At present, enjoys the status of ‘skill based game’ but still industry is on. 4. American Express considers a business more likely to have a high chargeback ratio to be a “high-risk merchant. e. 01332 477 85301274 649 89301274 649 89501274 649. We are a financial advisor delivering high-risk payment gateway solutions to businesses labeled as high-risk such as online gaming, tobacco, adult services, etc. Onboarding. 1. Further, it is prohibited to use Stripe’s products and. Merchant management. We provide the best credit card processing services for all type and size of businesses. Request Demo Discover Now. This will allow you to continue doing business even in high-risk markets. Gambling enforcement activities are essential to maintaining the integrity of gambling in B. Apply here to set. Acquiring gambling merchants is not something any acquirer can dabble with in the corner of their portfolio. Another crucial thing to consider is that not all financial institutions work with offline and online businesses specializing in casinos, betting, gambling, etc. Think of the MATCH list. Navigating the challenges of high-risk merchant accounts can be daunting for business owners, but partnering with a provider like Axcess Merchant Services can make the process more manageable. Gspay. A payment gateway for online gambling is the bridge that connects your gambling/casino website to your online casino merchant account. An online gambling merchant account isn’t easy to come by. However, that processing fee can inflate to well over 1. Risk management in gambling can prevent unbudgeted expenses and the loss of reputation, fight against cyber-attacks and money laundering. If you’re having a hard time finding a merchant account provider, then United Banc Card of TN is the business for you. We offer fair, transparent pricing for high-risk merchants, starting from 1. Banks and payment processors. SMB Global: Best for Ultra High-Risk Merchants. Especially acquirers with many high-risk merchants in their portfolio have to implement a solid monitoring framework. Friendly fraud is now reportedly the #1 fraud attack source that merchants have to deal with. But Square is just like all the others in that they will not process payments for high-risk merchants, including adult entertainment, gambling, service station merchants, or even bankruptcy attorneys. Additionally, you will receive a detailed fee schedule for all your transactions. Since high risk businesses are. In these additional terms regarding Gaming and Gambling Services, the following capitalised terms. For example, ecommerce brands can expect to pay 4% per transaction while dating sites are looking at 6% and IT support 10%. Segpay works with high-risk merchants to. Who We Are. Posted May 1, 2023. Zero or low chargeback ratio. The global gambling market is worth billions of dollars, and with the rise of online gambling, the industry has become even more vulnerable to. This is not the first time that gambling data requests have raised concerns. Additionally, you will receive a detailed fee schedule for all your transactions. Online Payments, A high-risk merchant account is a payment processing account for businesses with an increased risk of chargebacks. The gaming business, also known as online gambling, has over the years become a crucial part of a well-organized and profitable gambling industry. An online gambling account for merchants allows businesses to process digital payments online through a gambling payment gateway . In. services (often. There are several criteria to determine the risk level of a business: high transaction volume, international payment (geographic location. It aims to make merchant risk management efficient and beneficial to any industry. Certain industries such as adult content, online gambling, e-cigarettes and online wine delivery make acquiring banks and payment processors nervous – for fear of selling products and/or services. We Provide Offshore International French European 3D Secure Merchant Account Services, High Risk, Hi Limit, No Cap, Gambling, Offshore and ACH Merchant Accounts Verified By Visa and Mastercard. 000 euros. Christian: Ongoing monitoring is required by regulatory authorities and credit card organisations as part of enhanced due diligence for certain merchant types. Show Summary. Through multi-acquiring, our goal is to have your business approved with best terms possible. eMerchant Authority is the leader in payment processing for high-risk merchants. The company focuses on providing tailored solutions and features to satisfy businesses’ needs. Opt for a high-risk merchant account that deploys robust fraud detection and prevention mechanisms, including real-time monitoring, identity verification, and effective chargeback management to reduce your own risk. Smoking-related or CBD products. 5 steps to managing high-risk gambling merchants. This includes identification, investigation, and enforcement activities related to. Finding the right payment gateway and merchant account solutions requires research and patience. Believe us, the MATCH list is a distinction merchants want to avoid at all costs. August 6, 2021. A: A casino merchant account enables online casinos to accept various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, and prepaid cards. , online gambling provider) (iBus Media Limited, 2011). A high-risk merchant account is a specific type of payment processing account that is required for certain businesses. Comprehensive fraud management system. Subscription “negative option” merchants (card-absent) MCC 5993. net. Experience a secure and seamless gambling payment processing solution with PayFasto’s gambling merchant account. Section, Division of Risk Management Supervision, to Managing Editor, Supervisory Insights, Division of Risk Management Supervision (Mar. Games of chance and games of skill - Includes any activity with an entry fee and a prize, regardless of whether the outcome is determined by chance or. Its dedicated gambling team will work with you to help increase player conversion rates, while tailoring a risk screening process to the unique needs of your business . Especially considered to be video games played. Best merchant services in 2023. net Or call 888-5-PAYNET today. This refers to both pay ins and payouts. How To Apply For A High Risk Merchant Account. We accept 98% of all merchants, ranging from big to small businesses. You need to have a way of accepting credit card payments in real-time from your customers all over the world. These businesses often operate in industries associated with high chargeback rates, potential fraud, and legal or regulatory issues. Specialized industry focuses: High-risk payment gateways may specialize in providing specific businesses deemed high-risk, such as online gambling, adult entertainment, or medicines. GSPAY is a little-known high-risk merchant account provider that offers a variety of fixed rates for different types of businesses. Best terms. Whitepages Pro and GiG examine fraud prevention for the online gambling industry, providing practical examples and four key steps to success for fraud proofing an online gambling organisation. Ongoing support & risk management every day through Whatsapp, Telegram & Skype. A payment gateway gives customers a choice of payment methods, such as ACH, bank transfers, credit or debit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies that helps customer retention. 5. Continuously establishing the context, identifying, analysing, evaluating and treating risks are the fundaments of risk management. Recognition is growing that gambling, although highly profitable for corporations and governments, is a source of serious and unevenly distributed harm. Buy a casino. Because the online gambling industry must constantly keep up with changing market trends, being able to rapidly innovate should be a key goal for online gambling merchants. As online gambling merchants are often categorized as “high risk” by default, a chargeback problem can quickly limit their options for affordably and reliably accepting credit card payments. Skip to content. eMerchant Authority’s Online Gaming Merchant Options. The hardest part for online casinos is obtaining online gambling merchant accounts for credit card processing. 1,000,000+ Players registered via agent networks. Venmo is a great cash-swapping app, and you could even ask customers to use Venmo for payments. 7% from 2022 to 2030. 01332 477 85301274 649 89301274 649 89501274 649 893. A framework for prudently managing relationships with third-party payment processors was communicated in the FDIC’s 2008 Guidance on Payment Processor Relationships. What we need to do is look at ways to manage this risk rather than remove it entirely. High Risk Merchants. Especially with online gambling, several little transactions are produced, and the corresponding banks frequently charge a significantly larger percentage fee. By contrast, a high-risk merchant who uses a payment processor like Paysafe should expect a fee as high as. A #gambling_merchant_account is a type of account that caters specifically to businesses operating within the online gambling industry. g. By using the latest data protection technology and fraud prevention mechanisms, such as 3D Secure, address verification and CVV, the right payments provider can help you reduce your risk and. Gambling and fantasy sports fall under this umbrella. Most merchant account suppliers are willing to listen and support business owners who learn from their mistakes. 3. Fortunately, EMB’s application process is quick and easy. Nor are the payment processors that serve them. As a merchant A business that accepts credit cards for goods or services. High-risk merchants are often associated with businesses that have a high level of exposure to lawsuits, other legal actions, fraud, chargebacks and higher transaction sizes. We extend credit card processing and online payment services to Nashville businesses categorized as “high-risk merchants. With specialization and years of experience in working with all types of high-risk merchants, we give you the best experience. Both banks and their regulators have been focusing on the issue of high-risk merchants with differing points of view as to how to deal with them. High-risk merchant accounts attract more stringent conditionalities than regular merchant accounts and are more expensive to manage. It’s all fun and games until your customers can’t make payments on your site. In the simplest of words, a high risk merchant account is an account that is used for payment processing by businesses that are considered to be high risk by banks. Online Payment Service, High Risk merchants, White label secure Gateway, Merchant account provider, and Gaming/Gambling payment solution Employees at Meikopay Kevin LeeAdept Payments offers high-risk merchant accounts as well as accounts for low- and mid-risk merchants. : Best for low. There some key differences in how payment processors treat high-risk and low-risk merchants to think about before diving into a potentially high-risk industry – Higher payment processing fees: The payment processing company charges a processing fee for each transaction over and above the interchange. . National Processing. General characteristics of a low risk merchant account. Chargebacks, especially fraudulent ones, have been becoming more frequent over the last five years, evidenced by two significant amendments Visa has made over the last three years. Authorize. The purpose of this guide is to provide merchants and their back-office sales staff with accurate, up-to-date information to help merchants minimizing the risk of loss from fraud and chargebacks. To discuss your payment management needs with one of our expert advisors. The main reasons you may be given a high risk merchant account are: History of chargebacks: This is when the issuing bank initiates the return of funds to the cardholder based on their complaint/dispute. We are impressed by EveryMatrix’s gaming portfolio and its ability to integrate with our. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health offers resources and a helpline at 1-866-531-2600. Online gambling/gaming merchant accounts are very similar to fantasy sports merchant accounts because risk and skill are involved in both. Most payment processors and merchant acquirers will not work approve any type of gaming or gambling merchant account. It also involves continuous management of your payment processing solutions and making the appropriate adjustments along the way. . 4. While merchants are typically corporate entities, they can be natural persons as well.