Ohio Moves to Ban Credit Cards for Sports Betting

United States.- 10 July 2026 www.zonadeazar.com The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has formally announced its intention to ban the use of credit cards for sports betting in the state. The measure is designed to strengthen player protection and reduce the use of debt to fund regulated gambling activity.

News Details

The regulator has proposed a rule amendment to remove credit cards as an approved funding method for sports betting. The change must still be submitted to and ratified by the Common Sense Initiative and the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review before it can take effect.

The OCCC has opened a public comment period until 17 July 2026, allowing operators and other stakeholders to provide feedback. A public hearing will then be held on a date yet to be announced.

The proposal is unlikely to face major resistance from licensed operators, as several leading companies have already stopped accepting credit cards for online gambling in the United States over the past 12 months, including bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, FanDuel and DraftKings.

Industry Context

Ohio would join a growing number of US states that have banned credit card use for sports betting or online gambling. These include Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Vermont, while similar restrictions have also advanced in Colorado, Maine and Virginia during 2026.

The debate forms part of a broader consumer protection and responsible gambling agenda focused on reducing financial risk linked to betting. In Ohio, Republican lawmakers have also introduced the Save Ohio Sports Act, a broader proposal that would impose sweeping restrictions, including limits on digital sports betting, bans on parlays, live betting, prop wagers and college betting, as well as tighter deposit and advertising controls.

Next Steps or Impact

If approved, Ohio will become one of the latest US regulated betting markets to ban direct credit card use for sports wagering. The decision could encourage similar measures in other states and intensify debate over payment methods, debt exposure and player protection in the regulated market.

Edited by: @_fonta