- Rep. Marc Malon has introduced a bill in Maine that would prohibit the use of credit cards for online sports betting.
- Eight other states have already taken similar measures in an effort to reduce gambling addiction and debt.
AUGUSTA, Maine – A new bill has been presented to the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee in Maine which would prohibit credit cards from being used for online sports betting.
Representative Marc Malon cites credit cards as having an increased risk of addiction and falling into debt as the basis of the bill, which studies in recent years have proven to be true.
Just two companies – DraftKings and Caesars Palace – are currently offering online sports betting in the state.
DraftKings made changes to its credit card policy in August, only allowing for players to deposit funds from credit cards for fantasy sports contests but not their online sportsbook or casino.
So far, eight states have entirely banned credit cards from being used to fund online sports betting accounts: Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Illinois.
Legal sports betting sites in these states allow for other methods of depositing funds, such as debit cards, online banking apps, and third party payment apps such as PayPal.
It would be unsurprising to see the bill passed given the fact that many of the states neighboring Maine have already passed similar legislation.
An amendment is set to be made by the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee in the coming weeks which will ensure that the state’s iGaming policies are included in the language of the bill.
Legal sports betting sites in Maine may very well be on their way to becoming the ninth state to ban credit cards for online sports betting.
