The state of Illinois is about to implement a significant change in its sports betting policies: the prohibition of the use of credit cards to fund betting accounts. This decision, made by the , aims to promote more responsible gambling practices and protect bettors from potential excessive debts.
A measure created to promote responsible gambling
Since the legalisation of sports betting in Illinois in 2019, bettors have been able to fund their accounts using credit cards. However, studies conducted recently indicate that the use of credit can facilitate compulsive gambling behaviours, leading individuals to accumulate financial debts. By prohibiting this form of funding, the IGB hopes to encourage bettors to use only funds available in their bank accounts, promoting a more conscious approach to gambling.
Marcus Fruchter, administrator of the IGB, highlighted that this change aligns sports betting practices with other forms of gambling in the state, such as 바카라s and video terminals, where the use of credit cards is already prohibited. He stated: “We have determined that prohibiting the use of credit cards to fund sports betting accounts is a justified and impactful advance in Illinois sports betting.”
National trend
Illinois is not the only one working on this idea. Other US states, such as Iowa, Massachusetts, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island, have already implemented similar prohibitions. The trend shows a growing national concern with the risks associated with compulsive gambling and debt related to betting.
In Iowa, for example, the prohibition of the use of credit cards in sports betting was implemented in 2020, following a previous ban on purchasing lottery tickets with credit cards. Massachusetts and Tennessee have prohibited the use of credit cards since the start of regulated sports betting in their states.
Next steps in Illinois
The IGB’s proposal now goes to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules of the Illinois General Assembly, where it will go through a period of public comment before final approval. If approved, the prohibition will apply to both in-person and online sports betting.
In addition, the IGB has adopted a rule that allows cashless betting in all 17 바카라s in the state. This measure will enable bettors to use digital 바카라 accounts or electronic wallets to fund bets and withdraw or cash out electronic credits. It is important to emphasise that the prohibition of the use of credit cards also applies to this new form of cashless betting.
Combating illegal gambling
Alongside the changes in betting funding methods, the IGB has intensified efforts to combat illegal gambling operators in the state. Since February, the regulator has issued cease and desist letters to several offshore operators, sweepstakes companies, and prediction markets that were offering sports betting or 바카라 games without a licence in Illinois.
Fruchter emphasised the IGB’s commitment to promoting a safe and responsible gambling environment, including sustained efforts to address the problem of unregulated and illegal operators, both in physical spaces and online.
With the prohibition of the use of credit cards, bettors in Illinois will need to adapt to new ways of funding their betting accounts. The available options will include ACH transfers and debit cards, which use funds directly available in users’ bank accounts. This change aims to ensure that bettors gamble only with money they actually have, reducing the risk of debt.
For Illinois residents, it is essential to be aware of changes in regulations and adapt to the new ways of funding betting. The transition to methods that use only available funds may represent a positive step towards a safer and more controlled gambling experience.
This article was first published in Portuguese on 5 May 2025.
