Accepting card payments at the gate keeps your lines moving and gives ticket buyers a familiar way to pay onsite. Connecting a MagTek credit card swiper to the Box Office app lets your staff swipe cards directly from an iPad or iPhone.

This article walks through what you need before you start, how to connect the MagTek swiper to the Box Office app, and how to rent or purchase a compatible swiper.

Note: MagTek swipers support swiped card payments only. They do not support dip or tap payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. If you need these payment methods, we recommend using a NYC1 card reader, which supports tap, dip, and swipe. Click here to learn more about the NYC1 card reader.

Warning: MagTek swipers must be rented or purchased through TicketSpice. Our swipers are custom encrypted to work specifically with our software, so MagTek devices purchased anywhere else will not work with the Box Office app.

Click here to request to rent MagTek swipers from TicketSpice.

Getting Started

Before connecting your swiper, confirm you have the right hardware and connection in place. Gathering these items ahead of your event day prevents last minute setup delays.

An iOS device with a Lightning port
A reliable WiFi connection
A MagTek credit card swiper purchased or rented though TicketSpice

Note: MagTek credit card readers connect directly to an iOS device through a Lightning port. They are not compatible with devices that use USB-C or with extension adapters.

Before using a MagTek reader, confirm that your iOS device has a Lightning port.

Connect the MagTek Swiper

Once you have your hardware ready, the Box Office app detects the swiper automatically.

Plug the MagTek swiper into the lightning port on your iPad or iPhone
Open the TicketSpice Box Office app
Tap the hamburger (☰) icon in the top left corner
Tap Settings
In the Card Readers section, confirm that your MagTek reader is connected

Pro Tip: Extension dongles typically do not work with MagTek credit card swipers. Plug the swiper directly into your device for the most reliable connection.

Note: If the Box Office app does not recognize your swiper, it is most often because the swiper is not fully inserted. An iPad or iPhone case can block the swiper from seating completely, so remove the case and reinsert the swiper.

FAQs

Do extension dongles work with MagTek credit card readers?

Typically, extension dongles do not work with MagTek credit card swipers.

Where can I rent or purchase a MagTek credit card swiper?

The only MagTek credit card swipers that are compatible with TicketSpice are ones that are rented or purchased through TicketSpice directly. This is due to them needing to be specially encoded in order to work.

Click here to request to rent MagTek swipers from TicketSpice.

Can i use a MagTek credit card swiper with a device that has a USB-C plug?

At this time, all of our MagTek credit card readers are only compatible with lingtning ports, not USB-C.

Can I use tap to pay with MagTek card swipers?

No, MagTek card swipers are not compatible with tap to pay.

My attendee's credit card isn't processing. We are using a MagTek swiper. What should I do?

If your credit card transactions aren't processing, we recommend checking that your MagTek swiper is fully connected into the lightning port, and re-processing the transaction.

Why isn't the Box Office recognizing the MagTek swiper when I insert it into my iPad?

A common reason the Box Office app doesn’t recognize your MagTek swiper is that the swiper isn’t fully inserted. In some cases, an iPad or iPhone case can prevent the swiper from connecting completely. If the Box Office app isn't recognizing your MagTek swiper, we recommend removing the case and reinserting the MagTek swiper.

Connect a MagTek Credit Card Swiper to the Box Office App