- House Bill 515 would stop Virginia bettors from using credit cards to fund their sports betting accounts.
- States like Massachusetts, Illinois, and Tennessee already blocked credit cards for wagering over worries about gambling problems and mounting debt.
- The bill needs to clear committee and pass both chambers before sportsbooks in Virginia have to drop credit cards as a deposit option.
RICHMOND, Va. – State legislators are reviewing a proposal that would prohibit bettors from using credit cards to fund their online sports betting accounts. Delegate Marty Martinez introduced House Bill 515 to remove credit cards from the list of approved payment methods for sportsbooks operating in Virginia.
Bettors in Virginia can currently deposit money using wire transfers, ACH payments, debit cards, credit cards, and other methods that have been authorized by the director of the Virginia Lottery. The state regulator would no longer be able to permit credit card transactions for sports betting if HB 515 is approved. The measure has not yet been assigned to a committee for consideration.
Payment Restrictions Gain Traction Nationwide
Although Martinez did not provide particular justification in the bill’s wording, comparable laws in other states have concentrated on avoiding problem gambling and minimizing financial impact. There is a delay between placing bets and realizing the financial impact since credit cards enable gamblers to wager with borrowed money. Before bettors realize the full depth of their losses, this divergence may result in debt accumulation.
Credit card use for legal sports betting is already prohibited in a number of states. Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Tennessee have implemented bans or limitations on the payment method. Illinois outlawed the use of credit cards for online sports betting last year; the ban went into force in November. In the middle of 2025, DraftKings also ceased taking credit card payments nationwide.
In late 2024, the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States published proposed model legislation suggesting that states restrict credit card sportsbook deposits and withdrawals. During a public hearing, former director of New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement David Rebuck claimed that there is insufficient evidence to warrant credit card restrictions.
Virginia lawmakers have several other gambling bills on their agenda this year. A plan to allow internet casinos with lottery oversight and a 15% tax system was proposed by Delegate Marcus Simon. HB 271 was drafted by Delegate Paul Krizek to establish a Virginia Gaming Commission that would replace the lottery in overseeing casinos and sports betting.
HB 515 must pass committee, be adopted by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, and reach the governor’s desk for a signature before it can truly become law. The outcome of this legislative process will decide if Virginia sportsbooks can still accept credit cards for deposits going forward.
