Virginia could become the latest US state to restrict how customers fund online sports betting accounts, following the introduction of legislation that would ban the use of credit cards for wagering.
House Bill 515, authored by Delegate Marty Martinez, proposes to prohibit the Director of the Virginia Lottery from approving credit cards as a permitted payment method for sports betting.
The bill was prefiled on January 13 and has been referred to the House Committee on General Laws for consideration during the 2026 regular session.
Under current Virginia law, online sportsbooks may accept deposits and withdrawals through debit cards, credit cards, automated clearinghouse transfers, wire payments, or other methods approved by the Lottery director.
If HB 515 is enacted, that authority would be curtailed, effectively removing credit cards from the list of allowable funding options.
The legislation does not outline a specific rationale for the proposed restriction. However, similar measures in other states have typically been linked to concerns around problem gambling, consumer debt, and financial instability associated with betting on credit.
Several states, including Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Tennessee, already prohibit credit card use for gambling activities.
Illinois implemented a regulatory ban on credit cards for online sports betting in November 2025, while lawmakers there have also explored embedding such restrictions directly into statute.
At the operator level, DraftKings voluntarily stopped accepting credit cards nationwide in 2024, citing consumer protection considerations.
National policy groups have also weighed in. The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States recommended in its 2024 draft model legislation that credit cards should not be permitted for online gambling transactions.
That position has been contested, with some regulators and lawmakers arguing that evidence linking credit card bans to reduced gambling harm remains inconclusive.
HB 515 is one of several gambling-related proposals expected to shape Virginia’s legislative agenda this year. Separate bills would legalize online casinos under Lottery oversight and establish a standalone Virginia Gaming Commission to assume regulatory authority over sports betting, casinos, charitable gaming, and daily fantasy sports.
The debate comes as Virginia’s regulated market continues to grow. In November 2025, sports betting generated a handle of $798.9m, with operators producing $95.3m in revenue and contributing nearly $14.3m in taxes to state funds.
Virginia’s sports betting market launched in 2021 and is currently regulated by the Virginia Lottery, with mobile wagering accounting for the vast majority of activity statewide
