Written by: Eric Bank
Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewed by: Adam West
Key Takeaways
- Pending final approval, credit cards will be forbidden for use with sports betting accounts in Illinois in an effort to discourage irresponsible gambling.
- The law makes the state one of several, including Massachusetts and Tennessee, to have enacted such restrictions.
- The action aims to shield vulnerable consumers, particularly subprime borrowers, from debt linked to gambling.
For those who like to place a friendly bet, it got just a little harder to do so on credit in Illinois.
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) unanimously voted on April 24 to prohibit the use of credit cards for funding online and retail sports betting accounts. The move, if ratified, brings sports betting in line with current regulations, which already prevent the use of credit cards for casino and video gaming betting.
“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 D. Fruchter.
Fruchter pointed to “research showing that restrictions on credit usage to fund wagering accounts encourages responsible gambling and mitigates the harms of compulsive gambling. Problem gamblers are particularly at risk.”
Illinois is not blazing this trail alone. It’s following a path that a few other states have already blazed. As of early 2025, at least six states, among them Massachusetts, Iowa, and Tennessee, have forbidden the use of credit cards to make a wager on sports.
Domestic organizations, such as the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), have gone as far as to suggest that all states bar credit cards for online gambling deposits as a means for greater consumer protection measures.
Shielding Subprime Borrowers From Debt Traps
Consumer protection in this area is crucial, especially for subprime borrowers.
These consumers, who tend to have poorer credit scores and smaller financial cushions, are particularly susceptible to gambling-related debt spirals. Losses that pile up on a credit card can set off a self-reinforcing spiral of rising interest charges, damaged credit, and financial dislocation.
By choking off access to borrowed money for bets, Illinois hopes to save its most financially vulnerable residents from that downward spiral.
What Happens Next?
The new rule is currently pending final review from the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), which has the job of vetting new regulations in Illinois.
If it passes that test, using a credit card to fund online and retail sports betting accounts will be prohibited, and it will be another sign that Illinois is serious about responsible gambling policies.
It is a move that follows a broader national conversation about the role of easy credit in fueling gambling problems. With legal sports betting spreading throughout the United States, some states fear that new gambling opportunities could result in a bad bet for their populations.
Illinois’ latest move reflects a belief among policymakers that protecting vulnerable consumers should take priority over convenience at the betting window.
“These new rules are the product of the IGB’s ongoing work to … evaluate potential rules, procedures and practices for either modification or adoption to best accommodate changes in gaming and ensure Illinois maintains high levels of ethics, innovation, competition, integrity, compliance, safety, and success,” Fruchter said
