The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) is moving forward with a proposed regulatory change that would ban the use of credit cards to fund online sports betting accounts in the state. This is the latest location aiming to ban credit cards as a payment method. The measure is still in the early stages, currently in the public comment period, but momentum is building.
Under the proposed rule change, Ohio sportsbook accounts would only be permitted to accept deposits through a limited group of approved deposit methods. Those options would include ACH bank transfers and wire transfers.
By removing credit cards as a deposit option, the OCCC is emphasizing responsible gaming measures. This is because credit card deposits can encourage players to gamble with borrowed money, potentially increasing financial risk and problem gambling behavior.
Restricting deposits to direct bank transfers may help create more friction around wagering activity, giving consumers greater visibility into the amount of money being used for betting. Since they’ll have to use personal funds rather than credit, it can deter impulsive wagering, keeping their spending in check.
The proposed change would also align Ohio with a growing number of jurisdictions and operators that have adopted tighter controls on sportsbook payment methods as part of broader responsible gaming initiatives. This includes states like Virginia and operators like Caesars.
The OCCC is currently gathering feedback from gaming industry stakeholders along with the public as part of the early stages of the rulemaking process tied to the proposed sportsbook credit card ban. Stakeholders have until May 15 to submit written comments regarding the amendment.
The commission has not yet announced a timeline for formally filing the amendment, but several additional steps are required before the proposal can take effect. Once submitted, the rule change must be reviewed by Ohio’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), which oversees whether proposed agency regulations align with existing state law.
As part of the process, the OCCC will also need to complete a business impact analysis evaluating how the proposed restrictions could affect operators and related parties. JCARR may choose to hold a public hearing on the amendment after the filing is submitted.
Ohio’s proposed restriction on credit card deposits reflects a broader industry trend toward eliminating borrowed funds from regulated sports betting markets. Over the past year, regulators and sportsbook operators across the U.S. have increasingly moved away from allowing credit cards as a funding method.
Because of that momentum, approval of Ohio’s proposed amendment appears increasingly likely. The OCCC’s proposal aligns with a growing regulatory consensus that sportsbook payment systems should prioritize consumer protections and financial transparency. As more states adopt similar rules, credit card deposits are steadily becoming less common throughout the U.S. sports betting industry.
If Ohio ultimately approves the ban, it would further reinforce a sports betting market centered online banking deposit methods instead of credit.
