BetMGM Is Banning Credit Card Deposits — Should Other Books Follow?

If you’ve been funding your BetMGM account with a credit card, that option is officially on its way out. Starting March 31, 2026, BetMGM began phasing out credit card deposits across its platform — and it’s the latest in a wave of major sportsbooks doing exactly the same thing. So what’s actually changing, why is it happening, and what should you use instead? Let’s break it down.

What BetMGM Is Doing (And When)

On March 25, 2026, BetMGM’s Chief Compliance Officer Rhea Loney announced at a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board meeting that starting March 31, no new credit cards can be linked to BetMGM accounts. Existing credit cards on file will then be gradually phased out after that date.

The company confirmed the change but kept the specifics of the full timeline vague. The bottom line: if you’re a BetMGM user, your credit card days are numbered on that platform.

BetMGM Isn’t Alone — Here’s Who Already Banned Credit Cards

BetMGM is actually playing catch-up here. Several other major US sportsbooks have already pulled the plug on credit card deposits:

DraftKings removed credit card deposits in August 2025, across every US state where it operates. FanDuel followed with a nationwide ban that took effect March 2, 2026. Fanatics Sportsbook and Betr never allowed credit cards at all — it was built into their responsible gambling framework from day one.

As of now, some books like Caesars Sportsbook and BetRivers still accept credit cards in eligible states, though this landscape is shifting fast. Several states — including Iowa, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Vermont — already ban credit card deposits for online sports betting by law, so your options may vary depending on where you live.

Why Are Sportsbooks Doing This?

There are two big reasons: responsible gambling and regulatory pressure.

On the responsible gambling side, using a credit card to bet is essentially gambling with borrowed money. If you lose, you still owe the bank — plus interest. That’s a recipe for debt spiraling out of control, and it’s one of the clearest warning signs of problem gambling behavior. By removing credit cards, sportsbooks are nudging bettors to only wager money they actually have.

On the regulatory side, BetMGM had some extra motivation. The company recently agreed to pay a $100,000 fine to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board after regulators found failures in its fraud prevention systems. Investigators uncovered four separate fraud schemes — one of which ran for over two years and involved more than 100 fraudulent accounts placing nearly $900,000 in bets using stolen identities and compromised credit cards. Removing credit cards as a payment option is a direct response to that vulnerability.

The Responsible Gambling Argument

Critics of credit card betting have been pushing for this change for years. The core argument is simple: sportsbooks should make it easy to bet responsibly, and letting someone rack up credit card debt doing it works against that goal.

Here’s something most casual bettors don’t realize: many banks classify gambling charges as cash advances rather than regular purchases. That means higher interest rates, no grace period, and fees that kick in immediately. You could deposit $100 and immediately owe more than that before you’ve even placed a bet.

Removing credit cards doesn’t eliminate problem gambling, but it removes one of the most financially dangerous tools from the equation.

What Should You Use Instead?

The good news: there are plenty of easy alternatives that work at every major sportsbook.

• Debit card — The most straightforward swap. Works like a credit card but pulls directly from your bank account, so you can only spend what you have.
• PayPal — Fast, secure, and widely accepted. Also makes withdrawals quick.
• ACH bank transfer — Linked directly to your checking account. Deposits may take a bit longer, but it’s fee-free in most cases.
• Online banking / VIP Preferred — Many sportsbooks offer instant bank transfer options through verified banking networks.
• Play+ Prepaid Card — Some books like BetMGM and DraftKings offer a branded prepaid card you can load separately and use specifically for betting.

Any of these options are safer, simpler, and honestly better habits for recreational bettors anyway.

Should All Books Follow BetMGM’s Lead?

That’s the bigger question here. The industry is clearly moving in one direction — the biggest names have all either already banned credit cards or are in the process of doing so. The remaining holdouts are under increasing regulatory and reputational pressure to follow.

For casual bettors, this change won’t affect your day-to-day experience much. If you were already using a debit card or bank transfer, nothing changes. But if you’ve been leaning on credit, now’s a great time to switch your habits — whether the book forces you to or not.

The goal of legal sports betting was always supposed to be entertainment, not debt. These changes are a step in the right direction.