The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) adopted proposed new rules at its April 24, 2025, meeting, including a prohibition on the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts to further support responsible gambling.
When legal sports wagering began in Illinois in March 2020, sports betting was authorized in 13 other states, and none prohibited the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts. Since that time, the industry has significantly evolved and today sports betting is legal is 40 states. At the 5-year mark of sports wagering in Illinois, IGB staff is reviewing current sports waging practices and rules to measure effectiveness and identify potential areas for adjustment.
“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,” said Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. “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 gamblers to use credit cards to place bets.”…