SPRINGFIELD, Ill.–The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is banning the use of credit cards to fund sports betting accounts in efforts to further support responsible gambling. 

When legal sports wagering launched in Illinois in March 2020, sports wagering was authorized in 13 other states, and none prohibited the use of credit cards to fund accounts, according to Gambling Industry News.

‘Responsible Gambling’

The publication said the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is banning the use of credit cards to fund sports betting accounts in efforts to further support responsible gambling.

“When legal sports wagering launched in Illinois in March 2020, sports wagering was authorized in 13 other states, and none prohibited the use of credit cards to fund accounts,” Gambling Industry News reported. 

The report noted that as of April 2025, sports betting is legal in 40 states, with six having already banned credit card use.

The IGB staff is “reviewing current sports waging practices and rules to measure effectiveness and identify potential areas for adjustment,” according to the Board, Gambling Industry News reported.

‘Growing Body of Research’“As part of our review, we determined that prohibiting the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts is a justified and impactful advancement in Illinois sports wagering,” Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter said in a statement cited by the publication. “There is a growing body of recent research showing that restrictions on credit usage to fund wagering accounts encourages responsible gambling and mitigates the harms of compulsive gambling. Problem gamblers are particularly at risk and studies have shown an often-problematic willingness for compulsive