Ohio Gambling Regulator Proposes Banning Credit Cards

The Buckeye State’s sports betting market may be saying bye-bye to credit card deposits.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has proposed a new rule that would ban sportsbooks from accepting credit card deposits. The move is aimed at addressing problem gambling, an issue that credit cards have been linked to. Many states already have bans in place, with several more considering adding them in 2026. 

The regulator is now taking public comments on the rule before sending it to the state legislature for review.

Credit cards provide temptation for gamblers

The most important advice any sports bettor can receive is to always set a budget before placing wagers.

When using money from a checking account or digital wallet, tracking finances can be fairly easy. That money is far more real to bettors, and they can budget how much they’ll need to keep to pay bills and other daily expenses. When losses pile up, the financial impact is felt immediately, prompting most bettors to stop and cool off.

The same cannot be said for credit cards, which allow bettors to build up gambling debts that they can pay later. The issue is that when they are dealing with problem gambling, there is often a belief that they can “figure it out later” and keep chasing losses. This leads to far larger bills and can result in devastating financial consequences. 

Industry unlikely to offer much resistance

While the sports betting industry is quick to fend off increased regulation and tax hikes, don’t expect the same kind of fight for Ohio’s proposed credit card ban. While this will lead sportsbooks to leave the market, several operators have confirmed that only a small number of bettors use credit cards.

Colorado is also considering a ban on credit card deposits, which is on track to become law. The bill, SB 131, originally included a wide array of changes to support responsible gambling but was pared down under pressure from the sports betting industry. The fact that the credit card ban was able to remain is a good indicator that Ohio will find similar success.

Why can’t states do more to fight problem gambling?

There are two reasons why proposals for a significant sports betting crackdown continue to fail.

The first reason is the sports betting industry, which carries significant political weight. That has allowed them to defeat bills that would make major changes to state markets, despite growing concern over problem gambling. 

The other reason is the emergence of sports prediction markets. These platforms allow customers to wager on sports, but the industry is not classified as a form of gambling. As a result, they aren’t bound by the same regulations and taxes that sportsbooks face. That means any significant crackdown could drive bettors to the new industry, which has put little focus on responsible gambling. 

Lawmakers are continuing to push, but we may need to settle for small changes for now.