Ohio Moves Toward Credit Card Ban for Sports Betting

Ohio is determined to stop residents from using credit cards when betting on sports. At least this is what Gov. Mike DeWine’s recent attempt is hinting at. 

DeWine’s administration forwarded the important draft rule earlier in the week, when the Ohio Casino Control Commission officially displayed it for the public. 

Not Applicable to Debit Cards

On this occasion, the commission also opened public comment through May 15, 2026. After that date, the regulator will hold a public hearing and proceed to send the proposal to a state legislative panel, where it will be carefully reviewed.

Any potential changes would go into effect later this summer.

The proposed draft rule does not include debit cards. The latter has represented the most popular payment method used by sports betting fans to fuel their accounts.

If given the green light, the state would join hands with at least nine other US states that have already adopted the credit card ban in relation to sports wagering.

Limited Effects?

In practice, however, the effect could be more limited than expected, given that big operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars have already begun prohibiting credit-card deposits in the past year.

Moreover, credit card companies began charging higher fees and interest on sportsbook transactions, handling them like cash advances.

As a reminder, last month’s proposed legislation looking to roll back online sports betting also featured a credit card deposit ban. Sports betting has been legalized in the Buckeye State since 2023.

Bill co-sponsor and state representative Gary Click then commented on the endless losing streak that gambling addicts usually go on, and the realization they tend to have when discovering they cannot pay their bills because they ran up their credit cards.