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BetMGM has announced plans to eliminate credit card deposits across its U.S. platforms, aligning itself with a growing number of operators shifting away from the payment method amid regulatory pressure and fraud concerns.
The operator revealed the change during a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) hearing, where company representatives outlined a timeline for removing credit card functionality from player accounts. The transition will begin on March 31, when users will no longer be able to add new credit cards, followed by a gradual removal of existing cards tied to accounts.
“In the coming days, as of March 31, we will no longer be allowing new credits cards to be added to the accounts for individuals and it is a phasing out of credit card usage on the BetMGM platforms,” said Chief Compliance Officer Rhea Loney during the meeting.
Policy Shift Follows Regulatory Scrutiny
The announcement came as part of a broader regulatory discussion that resulted in BetMGM agreeing to pay a $100,000 fine in Pennsylvania. The penalty stemmed from deficiencies in the company’s safeguards against fraudulent activity.
According to the PGCB, BetMGM did not maintain adequate procedures to stop misuse of its platforms, including failures in its Know-Your-Customer protocols. These gaps allowed individuals to create and operate multiple accounts using other people’s identities, with some accounts funded “using stolen or fraudulently obtained payment devices”.
Investigators identified four separate fraud rings tied to these issues. One group operated for 29 months until November 2023 and used 119 fraudulent accounts to place wagers totaling $895,092. Other schemes lasted between 19 and 34 months and involved hundreds to more than a thousand accounts, collectively generating significant wagering activity.
The regulator concluded that the operator’s controls were insufficient to prevent these activities across both BetMGM and Borgata-branded platforms.
Industry Trend Moves Away From Credit Cards
BetMGM’s decision reflects a broader shift among major U.S. gaming companies. Several leading operators have already removed credit cards as a deposit option.
DraftKings implemented a similar restriction in August 2025, covering both Sports Betting and online casino products. The company described the move as a way to help users “avoid cash advance fees and higher interest rates” linked to credit card use.
FanDuel followed with its own policy earlier this year, introducing a nationwide ban effective March 2, 2026. The company said it evaluated its available payment options before making the change.
“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 State. This change was made to improve our deposit experience for our customers,” a FanDuel spokesperson said according to SBC Americas.
With BetMGM now joining these competitors, credit card deposits are becoming increasingly uncommon across regulated U.S. online gambling platforms.
Expanding Legal Restrictions Across States
In addition to operator-led changes, several states already prohibit the use of credit cards for online betting transactions. These include Massachusetts, Iowa, Illinois, Oregon, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Vermont.
Massachusetts has taken a particularly firm stance. Regulators there previously fined DraftKings $450,000 after the company allowed credit card deposits on multiple occasions, despite a statewide ban that applies even to transactions initiated outside its borders.
Legislative efforts are also underway in other jurisdictions. Lawmakers in New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have introduced proposals aimed at banning credit card funding for online wagering accounts. In Maryland, the House approved a broader consumer protection bill by a 132-0 vote on March 18 that includes such measures.
Recent developments in other states point toward further restrictions. Virginia legislators passed House Bill 515 to prohibit credit card use in Sports Betting, sending the measure to Governor Abigail Spanberger for consideration. In Maine, lawmakers approved similar legislation, leaving the final decision to Governor Janet Mills.
BetMGM has announced plans to eliminate credit card deposits across its U.S. platforms, aligning itself with a growing number of operators shifting away from the payment method amid regulatory pressure and fraud concerns.
The operator revealed the change during a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) hearing, where company representatives outlined a timeline for removing credit card functionality from player accounts. The transition will begin on March 31, when users will no longer be able to add new credit cards, followed by a gradual removal of existing cards tied to accounts.
“In the coming days, as of March 31, we will no longer be allowing new credits cards to be added to the accounts for individuals and it is a phasing out of credit card usage on the BetMGM platforms,” said Chief Compliance Officer Rhea Loney during the meeting.
Policy Shift Follows Regulatory Scrutiny
The announcement came as part of a broader regulatory discussion that resulted in BetMGM agreeing to pay a $100,000 fine in Pennsylvania. The penalty stemmed from deficiencies in the company’s safeguards against fraudulent activity.
According to the PGCB, BetMGM did not maintain adequate procedures to stop misuse of its platforms, including failures in its Know-Your-Customer protocols. These gaps allowed individuals to create and operate multiple accounts using other people’s identities, with some accounts funded “using stolen or fraudulently obtained payment devices”.
Investigators identified four separate fraud rings tied to these issues. One group operated for 29 months until November 2023 and used 119 fraudulent accounts to place wagers totaling $895,092. Other schemes lasted between 19 and 34 months and involved hundreds to more than a thousand accounts, collectively generating significant wagering activity.
The regulator concluded that the operator’s controls were insufficient to prevent these activities across both BetMGM and Borgata-branded platforms.
Industry Trend Moves Away From Credit Cards
BetMGM’s decision reflects a broader shift among major U.S. gaming companies. Several leading operators have already removed credit cards as a deposit option.
DraftKings implemented a similar restriction in August 2025, covering both Sports Betting and online casino products. The company described the move as a way to help users “avoid cash advance fees and higher interest rates” linked to credit card use.
FanDuel followed with its own policy earlier this year, introducing a nationwide ban effective March 2, 2026. The company said it evaluated its available payment options before making the change.
“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 State. This change was made to improve our deposit experience for our customers,” a FanDuel spokesperson said according to SBC Americas.
With BetMGM now joining these competitors, credit card deposits are becoming increasingly uncommon across regulated U.S. online gambling platforms.
Expanding Legal Restrictions Across States
In addition to operator-led changes, several states already prohibit the use of credit cards for online betting transactions. These include Massachusetts, Iowa, Illinois, Oregon, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Vermont.
Massachusetts has taken a particularly firm stance. Regulators there previously fined DraftKings $450,000 after the company allowed credit card deposits on multiple occasions, despite a statewide ban that applies even to transactions initiated outside its borders.
Legislative efforts are also underway in other jurisdictions. Lawmakers in New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have introduced proposals aimed at banning credit card funding for online wagering accounts. In Maryland, the House approved a broader consumer protection bill by a 132-0 vote on March 18 that includes such measures.
Recent developments in other states point toward further restrictions. Virginia legislators passed House Bill 515 to prohibit credit card use in Sports Betting, sending the measure to Governor Abigail Spanberger for consideration. In Maine, lawmakers approved similar legislation, leaving the final decision to Governor Janet Mills.
