BetMGM joins rivals in credit card ban
- BetMGM begins blocking new credit card additions from March 31, with existing cards to be phased out over time.
- The announcement came during a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board meeting where BetMGM was also fined $100,000 for KYC failures.
- DraftKings and FanDuel have already implemented similar bans, accelerating a wider industry shift away from credit card funding.
BetMGM has announced it will phase out credit card deposits across its US platforms, joining DraftKings and FanDuel in removing the payment method from online sports betting and casino accounts.
The operator disclosed the plan on March 25 during a public meeting of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Phased removal begins now
Starting March 31, BetMGM will no longer allow new credit cards to be linked to player accounts. The company will then gradually remove all existing credit cards from its platforms after that date.
Rhea Loney, BetMGM’s chief compliance officer, confirmed the policy at the PGCB hearing.
“In the coming days, as of March 31, we will no longer be allowing new credit cards to be added to the accounts for individuals and it is a phasing out of credit card usage on the BetMGM platforms,” Loney said.
A BetMGM spokesperson confirmed the gradual phase-out but provided no further details on the timeline for removing existing cards.
Fraud fine adds context
The credit card announcement came during the same PGCB session in which the board approved a consent agreement fining BetMGM $100,000 for inadequate anti-fraud controls. The PGCB found that weak KYC protocols had enabled multiple accounts to be created using stolen personal information and payment methods.
Investigators identified four separate fraud rings that collectively generated over $2 million in wagering across periods spanning 19 to 34 months.
One ring operated for approximately 25 months, producing 1,567 fraudulent accounts and $229,580 in combined wagers. Another ran for 34 months, generating 34 accounts and $14,598 in wagering.
PGCB Chair Denise J. Smiley asked BetMGM’s representatives whether the company was considering a credit card prohibition to reduce fraud exposure. Joseph Caputi, senior legal counsel for BetMGM, confirmed a plan was in place before Loney outlined the details.
Industry shift accelerates
BetMGM’s move brings the three largest US online gambling operators into alignment on credit card policy.
DraftKings stopped accepting credit card deposits in August 2025, a decision that followed a $450,000 fine from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in July 2025 for 1,160 impermissible credit card wagers – comprising 242 deposits by 218 customers totalling $83,667 in handle – recorded across 2023 and 2024.
FanDuel banned credit card deposits nationwide from March 2, 2026. At that time, a FanDuel spokesperson said:
“Over the last few months, FanDuel has been evaluating the payment methods that we offer to customers and made the decision to remove credit cards as an option for our sportsbook, casino, and racing product in the United States. This change was made to improve our deposit experience for our customers.”
Several states already prohibit credit card deposits for online wagering, including Massachusetts, Iowa, Oregon, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Vermont. Legislative proposals are advancing in additional markets.
New York Assemblyman Robert C. Carroll recently introduced bill A7962 to ban credit card use for online sports betting in the Empire State. New Jersey Senator Paul D. Moriarty filed S3461 targeting the same practice.
In Virginia, Del. Marty Martinez‘s legislation HB 515 cleared the House by a 94-3 vote in January 2026 and passed the Senate this session; it now awaits Governor Abigail Spanberger‘s signature. Maine lawmakers also gave final approval this month to a bill banning credit cards as a payment method for sports betting and online gambling.
For remaining operators yet to act, the precedent set by DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM will make maintaining credit card deposit options an increasingly difficult position to defend.
Compliance teams should expect further scrutiny of payment methods as consumer protection measures continue to tighten across US gambling markets.
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