Of the flurry of online casino bills that have been introduced so far in the 2025 legislative session (including active and inactive bills), four explicitly allow credit cards to be used for iGaming deposits and withdrawals.
This comes after the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States released model legislation in November that suggested any future iGaming bill doesn’t allow credit cards to be used.
An expert with nearly a decade of experience performing responsible gambling audits for the Toronto-based Responsible Gambling Council told Comped his organization checks to see if credit cards are allowed or banned as part of all of their responsible gambling checks. He thinks the NCLGS is on the right side of this topic.
“Research has shown that the use of a credit cards can lead to a disconnect between what funds the player has and what is being spent,” Bob Michniak, associate director of accreditation at the Responsible Gambling Council, told Comped. “This detachment can lead to behavior that can cause harm, as players may not feel the immediate impact of their gambling.”
Credit card discussions in iGaming ‘continuing to evolve’
Michniak particularly likes that the NCLGS went even further — explicitly barring any credit card funds on digital wallets (like PayPal or Venmo) or prepaid cards, as well. Specifically, the model legislation says only a digital wallet that “provides assurance that a credit card has not been used to deposit funds” should be permitted.
He pointed out that markets like Australia and the United Kingdom already ban credit cards for online gambling payments. And Norway, meanwhile, is blocking credit card payments to black market gambling sites.
Speaking of the UK … Jordan Reay, an England-based sports betting consultant who works with Playtech, wants credit cards out of iGaming in the US.
“Credit cards were banned years back on these shores,” Reay told Comped. “In reality, someone should never bet on credit.”
Overall, Michniak thinks it was smart for the NCLGS to keep credit cards out of its model iGaming legislation — even if not all states are following their lead this legislative session.
“Banning credit cards is likely to be a contentious topic. … Conversations around the use of credit cards are continuing to evolve,” he said. “Banning credit cards in gambling might help reduce the risk for an individual to gamble beyond their means; however, this alone is not enough to mitigate harm entirely.
“While a credit card ban is helpful, it is only a part of a broader toolkit needed to mitigate potential harms from gambling. Additionally, including the ban within the framework legislation is perhaps an acknowledgement by NCLGS to the importance of such a measure, not just to players but also to prospective legislators giving future legislation consideration.”
Credit card policies in current iGaming bills
So … what do the current crop of iGaming bills actually say about credit cards?
Bills in two states don’t mention them.
One expressly forbids them. One directly lists debit cards and not credit cards.
Two others allow credit cards, although one sets a $2,500-per-year spending limit. And two others (which have stalled out and will not pass) also allowed credit cards.
Illinois
Companion bills in the Illinois House and Senate — HB 3080 and SB 1963 — say:
“A participant may deposit and withdraw funds from the participant’s Internet wagering accounts in-person at a casino or racetrack or over the Internet through electronic means to the extent allowed by federal law, including debit and credit cards.”
These bills were just filed earlier this month, so it’s too early to gauge their chances at success. The House bill was referred to the Rules Committee, and the Senate bill was referred to the Assignments Committee.
Maryland
The Maryland companion bills expressly ban credit card usage.
“An internet gaming licensee shall: … prohibit the use of credit cards for any internet gaming-related transactions.”
No consensus was reached at hearings for both bills in their respective houses in late January and early February. The crossover deadline — when bills must be approved in their original chamber and sent to the other chamber — is March 17.
Massachusetts
Both Massachusetts bills, filed in late January, don’t directly mention any type of payment method. Instead, they say: a patron “may deposit by any method approved by the commission.”
Currently, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission does not allow gamblers to use credit cards for online sports betting. So one can reasonably assume the same policy would be in place for online casinos.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s iGaming bill has a list of six approved deposit methods, including debit cards. However, there is also a seventh option: “Any other means approved by the executive director.”
Like Massachusetts, New Hampshire bars credit cards for online sports betting. That would likely hold true for iGaming.
The bill was approved by the Senate Ways and Means Committee last week. So it has cleared the first obstacle.
New York
The iGaming bill in New York allows for credit card deposits, but at a limit of $2,500 per year. The bill explicitly says that the spending limit does not apply to other payment methods, including debit cards.
It has been assigned to the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee.
Other bills
The Wyoming bill did not mention credit cards — it just referenced “cash or cash equivalents.”
The Virginia and Indiana bills did directly list credit cards as an allowed deposit option.
However, all of these bills have, for all intents and purposes, stalled out and will not pass.