Illinois Gaming Board moves to ban credit cards for online sports betting
Cashless gaming in casinos approved - digital wallets or casino accounts to place bets, withdraw funds, and cash out winnings—though the credit card ban would still apply to these digital transactions
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is tightening its regulations on sports wagering, advancing a rule that would prohibit the use of credit cards to fund online sports betting accounts.
The measure is part of a broader effort to promote responsible gambling and protect consumers as the state marks five years since launching its regulated sports betting market.
The IGB announced this week that it has formally adopted the proposed rule, citing growing evidence linking credit card restrictions to healthier gambling behaviors.
“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,” said IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter. “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.”
The proposed rule now goes to the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for review and public comment. If approved, Illinois will join states like Iowa, Massachusetts, and Tennessee in banning credit card use for sports wagering.
Iowa implemented its ban in 2020, while Massachusetts and Tennessee barred credit card use from the outset of legalized sports betting in their states.
In addition to the proposed credit card prohibition, the IGB has adopted new rules allowing cashless wagering across all 17 Illinois casinos. These updates permit patrons to use digital wallets or casino accounts to place bets, withdraw funds, and cash out winnings—though the credit card ban would still apply to these digital transactions.
The regulator also approved a new requirement targeting video gaming sales agents and brokers, mandating specific record-keeping standards to enhance oversight.
All newly adopted rules are now under review by the JCAR, which will determine whether they move forward.
Meanwhile, other states continue to debate similar reforms. In Pennsylvania, Sen. Wayne Fontana introduced Senate Bill 1159 last year to prohibit the use of credit cards for sports betting, iGaming, daily fantasy sports, and iLottery. Despite bipartisan support, the bill stalled in committee.
https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/05/01/103279-illinois-gaming-board-moves-to-ban-credit-cards-for-online-sports-betting