Pennsylvania Considering Ban on the Use of Credit Cards at Sportsbooks

Pennsylvania is considering a change to its online gaming industry that could have set a new precedent in the US.

State Senator Wayne Fontana has proposed bill SB 1159, which is currently being reviewed by a committee. If passed, the bill would ban the use of credit cards for any form of online gaming. That would cover both online casinos and sportsbooks, meaning players would need to use their bank account (or PayPal) to fund their accounts.

“Gambling and credit card debt often go hand in hand since this disorder can lead to financial problems that affect one’s ability to pay off debt.” Fontana said in March, “Therefore, I will be introducing legislation that would prohibit the use of credit cards for iLottery, online casino games, and sports betting and fantasy sports. With the average Pennsylvanian having a credit card balance that exceeds $5,640, online gaming should not be another scenario to accumulate more debt,” 

The new bill comes as states are scrambling to address problem gambling. Credit cards have been a hot topic, but Pennsylvania would be the biggest state to reverse course and ban the payment method. If the bill passes, you can expect several other states to follow suit.

If passed, Pennsylvania would join Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Vermont in banning the use of credit cards.

States Continue to Push Additional Regulations on Sports Betting

Pennsylvania is the latest state to propose changes to its sports betting law, but it is far from the first. Connecticut is currently considering legislation to tighten restrictions on advertising for sports betting operators, and New Jersey seems set to ban college player prop bets.

This recent push for more regulations comes after a spike in problem gambling, harassment of athletes, and sports betting scandals. It has led to a public outcry for states and regulators to take action, which we are now seeing.