DraftKings customers can no longer use credit cards to bet on sports or play online casino games.
DraftKings removed the payment method Monday, describing it as a consumer protection measure aimed at easing the financial burden tied to using credit cards to gamble.
Stored credit cards will be removed from accounts later this month. Customers who previously relied on them will need to switch to debit or digital payment methods, such as PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay or other alternatives like wire transfers and bank transfers.
“DraftKings has made the strategic business decision to remove credit cards as a deposit option for sportsbook and casino in the United States,” a DraftKings spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “The change is intended to help customers avoid cash advance fees and higher interest rates often associated with this payment method and otherwise improve the deposit experience.”
States ban credit card sports betting
The move underscores a broader shift in U.S. sports betting toward limiting credit-funded play, a trend that could accelerate as more lawmakers and regulators weigh consumer protections.
In July, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission fined DraftKings $450,000 for accepting more than $83,000 in credit card deposits despite the state’s explicit ban. The operator self-reported the violations and refunded money to 218 customers, citing internal miscommunication as the cause of the issue.
Last year, The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States drafted model legislation that would ban the practice outright. Since then states like Illinois have adopted their own credit card bans, bringing the total number of states with bans to seven.
DraftKings joins others with bans
DraftKings joins a small but growing list of sports betting operators banning credit cards, like Betr and Fanatics.
The company has acknowledged that only a small percentage of deposits come through credit cards, meaning the shift is more about standardizing payments than disrupting how most players fund their accounts.
