Illinois blocks credit card payments for sports betting accounts
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has moved to ban the use of credit cards for sports betting accounts in a bold step to reduce gambling harm.
The IGB’s April meeting delivered a new rule designed to curb compulsive betting and tighten safeguards for players. While Illinois already restricts credit card use in casinos and video gaming, this decision extends the measure to online sports wagering, a fast-growing sector across the United States.
Credit card clampdown signals a shift in strategy
IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter described the credit card ban as “a justified and impactful advancement in Illinois sports wagering.” He cited new research showing that bettors are less likely to spiral into debt when they cannot fund their accounts with borrowed money.
“Problem gamblers are particularly at risk,” said Fruchter. “Studies have shown an often-problematic willingness for compulsive gamblers to use credit cards to place sports betting wagers.”
Illinois is now the seventh U.S. state to enforce such a restriction, following Massachusetts, Iowa and Tennessee, among others. It marks a growing recognition that frictionless access to gambling via credit may be a fast track to harm.
A moment of reckoning for sports betting providers
The new rule must now pass through the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for public consultation and formal adoption. If approved, the changes could reshape how operators onboard and retain players, especially those vulnerable to addiction.
The decision also arrives at a tense moment for the industry. As regulators grow more watchful, lawsuits are piling up. Just two weeks ago, a class action was filed against Stake.us in the Northern District of Illinois, accusing the site of acting as an unlicensed casino under the guise of a sweepstakes platform. The complaint centres on the platform’s real-money mechanics and the absence of safer gambling tools.
Meanwhile, the IGB has also launched an investigation into Kalshi, a prediction market app that allegedly crossed the line into illegal sports betting without state authorisation. The probe reflects the growing tension between federal fintechs and local licensing law.
Cashless casinos and stricter compliance rules approved
Alongside the credit card ban, the IGB green-lit two more changes. The first permits cashless wagering at all 17 licensed Illinois casinos. Patrons can now deposit, withdraw and bet using digital wallets, provided they meet all consumer protection checks, including ID verification, age limits and the ongoing credit card block.
The second rule imposes stricter record retention for video gaming sales agents. These staff must now follow the same compliance and reporting rules as other gaming licensees to ensure traceability and transparency.
Fruchter said the changes reflect the Board’s broader aim to “ensure that Illinois maintains high levels of ethics, innovation, competition, integrity, compliance, safety and success.”
Gaming expansion continues while oversight tightens
Illinois’ commitment to expanding regulated gambling remains clear. On 18 April, Fairmount Park in Collinsville opened as the state’s 17th casino and first racino. It brought in $9.7 million in licensing fees, contributing to a $400 million total raised since the 2019 gaming expansion law took effect.
Yet expansion comes with responsibility. The IGB continues to remind players to avoid unregulated or offshore sites and offers a self-exclusion programme for anyone struggling with gambling.
The for 5 June 2025, where further sports betting rules may be discussed.
