Doug Bonjour is a veteran sportswriter with more than a decade of experience, including in the realm of sports betting. He’s written for the New York Times, Associated Press, CBS Sports and Hearst Connecticut Media...
Read Full BioThe Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has adopted new rules prohibiting the use of credit cards to fund online sports betting accounts.
The proposed changes, described by IGB Administrator Marcus D. Frutcher during an April 24 meeting as a “worthwhile policy to encourage responsible gambling and mitigate the potential harms of compulsive gambling,” would align with the state’s current ban on credit cards for retail casino and video gaming wagers.
They still require final approval from the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), which will hold a public comment period.
“As part of our review, we determined that prohibiting the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts is a justified and impactful advancement in Illinois sports wagering,” Fruchter said in a press release. “There is a growing body of recent research showing that restrictions on credit usage to fund wagering accounts encourages responsible gambling and mitigates the harms of compulsive gambling.”
Illinois Credit Card Ban Retains Focus on Evolving with Growing Industry
Should the proposal pass, Illinois would become the seventh state to prohibit credit cards for sports wagering. According to Frutcher, additional states are weighing similar bans.
Frutcher emphasized the importance of applying a “consistent approach” to regulations on credit cards, which are already restricted on retail and video game wagers. He also stressed the need to adapt to changes to guard against addictive behaviors.
“Problem gamblers are particularly at risk,” Frutcher said, “and studies have shown an often-problematic willingness for compulsive gamblers to use credit cards to place bets.”
Online sports betting has expanded at pace since Illinois launched operations in March 2020. It is now authorized in 40 states, with Missouri set to begin services this fall. Notably, most of them still allow bettors to use credit cards, though states like Iowa, Massachusetts, and Tennessee have reversed regulations over time.
“If this rule is adopted and credit cards are prohibited, sports betting patrons will remain able to use ACH debit cards to load sports wagering accounts with money they have in their bank accounts, and with money that patrons actually have at their disposal,” Frutcher said.
Illinois added bet365 in March, increasing the number of active online operators in the state to 10. The others include DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, Hard Rock Bet, ESPN Bet, and Circa Sports. In February, state lawmakers also introduced bills to legalize online casino play.
The Gaming Control Board has also joined the ongoing legal battle against sports event market operators, issuing cease and desist orders last month to Crypto.com, Robinhood, and Kalshi.
Transparency Remains Point of Emphasis
At its April 24 meeting, the IGB adopted two additional measures, both of which aim to increase the transparency of gaming operations statewide.
One measure permits all 17 casinos to offer cashless wagering. This policy allows customers to use a digital wallet to place bets, deposit/withdraw electronic credits, or cash out remaining funds.
The other would enhance record-keeping requirements for video gaming sales agents and brokers.
