Key Takeaways
- Ohio regulators have approved a proposed rule banning credit card deposits for online sportsbooks.
- Most major sportsbook operators have already phased out direct credit card funding.
- The proposal is designed to enhance responsible gaming safeguards.
- Ohio would join several states that already restrict credit card gambling deposits.
Ohio is taking another step toward tightening its responsible gaming regulations after the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) approved a proposed rule that would prohibit online sportsbooks from accepting credit card deposits. If finalized, the change would formalize a practice already adopted by the country’s largest sports betting operators.
The proposed amendment is part of a broader effort by Ohio regulators to update sports betting rules while expanding consumer protections.
Leading sportsbooks have already dropped credit card payments
The OCCC’s proposal reflects an industry-wide shift that has already taken place among the biggest online sportsbook brands.
DraftKings became the first major operator to discontinue direct credit card deposits in 2025. FanDuel and BetMGM followed suit in early 2026, with Caesars and bet365 removing the payment option shortly afterward.
Fanatics Sportsbook has never offered direct credit card funding, leaving the six largest U.S. sportsbooks relying on payment methods such as debit cards, ACH transfers, online banking, prepaid cards, and digital wallets instead.
Ohio would join other states with similar rules
Should the rule receive final approval, Ohio would become the latest state to formally prohibit the use of credit cards for online sportsbook deposits. Illinois, Massachusetts, and Vermont already enforce comparable restrictions.
As legal sports betting continues to mature across the United States, regulators have increasingly incorporated responsible gaming measures directly into state regulations rather than relying solely on voluntary operator policies.
Credit card bans are viewed as responsible gaming protections
Supporters of the proposal argue that restricting credit card deposits helps reduce gambling-related financial risks by preventing bettors from wagering with borrowed funds.
Unlike debit cards or direct bank transfers, credit cards allow players to accumulate debt while continuing to gamble. Regulators and responsible gaming advocates believe eliminating this funding option encourages consumers to bet only with money they already have available and may reduce the potential for financial harm.
Players would still have access to a wide range of alternative deposit methods, including bank transfers, debit cards, e-wallets, and prepaid payment options.
Public feedback period remains open
The proposed rule will now move through Ohio’s formal regulatory process before it can be implemented. The Ohio Casino Control Commission is accepting public comments through July 17, giving sportsbook operators, industry stakeholders, and residents an opportunity to submit feedback.
Once the comment period closes, the commission is expected to hold a public hearing before voting on final adoption. While no hearing date has been confirmed, the OCCC’s next scheduled public meetings are set for July 15 and Aug. 19.
Proposal comes amid broader sports betting debate
The credit card deposit proposal arrives as Ohio policymakers continue discussing additional changes to the state’s sports betting framework. Separate legislation has been introduced that would dramatically overhaul the market by eliminating online sports betting in favor of a retail-only model and limiting certain wagering options.
Compared to those broader proposals, the credit card restriction appears far less controversial, as the nation’s largest sportsbook operators have already voluntarily abandoned the payment method. If approved, the rule would further align Ohio with other states that have adopted stricter responsible gaming standards.
