Ohio is one step closer to officially banning credit cards as a way to fund online sports betting accounts. The Ohio Casino Control Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday, June 17, to advance the rule change, moving it past the public comment stage and toward a final approval vote later this year.
The amendment to Ohio Administrative Code Sports Gaming Rule 3775-16-03 was introduced and approved on first reading in early May, then opened to a public comment window that closed on Friday, May 15. With Wednesday's vote, the Commission has now moved the rule into its formal filing process. Staff will bring it back for a final vote at a later date.
No substantive public comments
Craig Donahue, the OCCC's deputy executive director and director of regulatory compliance, reported that no substantive public comments were received during the comment window. DraftKings requested a small technical change to the amendment language, Donahue said, but raised no objection to the ban itself.
That lack of pushback is unsurprising: most major Ohio operators already block credit card deposits voluntarily. DraftKings has a nationwide credit card ban in place. FanDuel, Fanatics Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, and bet365 all maintain similar prohibitions. BetMGM announced in May that it would begin phasing out credit card deposits as well.
Ohio would become the 10th state to ban credit card deposits
If the rule receives final approval, Ohio will become the tenth state with legalized sports betting to prohibit credit card account funding. Nine states already have such bans in place:
| State | Status |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Active ban |
| Illinois | Active ban |
| Iowa | Active ban |
| New Hampshire | Active ban |
| Oregon | Active ban |
| Rhode Island | Active ban |
| Tennessee | Active ban |
| Vermont | Active ban |
| Virginia | Active ban |
| Ohio | Advanced June 17, 2026 — final vote pending |
Credit card deposit bans are a responsible-gambling measure. Unlike debit transactions, credit card deposits let bettors gamble with borrowed money — a pattern problem-gambling researchers consistently flag as high-risk. Debit cards, ACH bank transfers, PayPal, Play+ prepaid cards, Apple Pay, and PayNearMe cash deposits all remain permitted under the proposed rule.
Fantasy contest operators excluded
Two licensed Ohio daily fantasy sports contest operators submitted comments during the window, expressing concern that the prohibition might extend to their customers. Donahue said the Commission is "comfortable" leaving licensed fantasy contest operators out of the credit card ban. If the rule takes effect, it will apply only to licensed sports betting operators — not to daily fantasy contests.
What it means for Ohio bettors
For the overwhelming majority of Ohio bettors, the practical impact is minimal. Anyone who has opened an account at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, or Fanatics in the past two years has already been routed through debit-only deposit flows. The change formalizes what the largest operators already do voluntarily.
Bettors who still rely on credit cards at smaller operators will need to switch to another method once the rule is finalized. The fastest options are PayPal — which offers same-day withdrawals at most Ohio sportsbooks — and Play+ prepaid cards. See our guides to Ohio sportsbook payment methods and PayPal-accepting Ohio operators for alternatives. This story is a follow-up to our May coverage of the rule's public comment period.