Pennsylvania Bill Looks To Ban Credit Cards For Gambling

A Pennsylvania bill (Senate Bill 1159) filed earlier this month could change how gamblers in the state fund betting accounts.

SB 1159 would prohibit Pennsylvania bettors from funding sports betting, online casinos, and online lottery accounts with credit cards.

The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Wayne Fontana and a few other legislators, is intended to help problem gamblers in the state. Fontana and others were worried gamblers could rack up debt by leaning on credit cards to chase losses.

“All you do is get deeper and deeper in, and you chase,” Fontana said in an interview with Sports Handle. “That’s what happens in gambling; you’re chasing your losses unless you have some discipline. Hopefully some of that discipline is not being able to use a credit card.”

Other jurisdictions with the rule

Pennsylvania wouldn’t be the first state to ban credit cards for funding sports betting accounts. Iowa, Massachusetts, and Tennessee prohibit funding sports betting accounts with credit cards.

The United Kingdom also doesn’t allow gamblers to use credit cards to fund accounts, citing recent research that suggests 22% of gamblers using credit cards are classified as problem gamblers in the U.K. The U.K. implemented its ban in 2020.

“Credit card gambling can lead to significant financial harm,” Neil McArthur, the U.K. Gambling Commission’s chief executive at the time the ban was implemented, said in a 2019 press release. “The ban that we have announced today should minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have.”

Next steps in Pennsylvania

Fontana’s bill was referred to a Senate committee, and Fontana is hopeful the legislation will move forward this session. He wants to see the bill move swiftly through both chambers, but Pennsylvania’s legislative session does go through the end of November.

The General Assembly has about six months to pass the bill. Fontana, while hopeful, knows it could take some convincing to bring other legislators on board with passing the bill.

“I think it’s gonna take a little time for my colleagues to realize this is a good consumer protection bill, and hopefully they’ll run the legislation,” Fontana said.

Should the bill fail to pass in 2024, Fontana won’t call it quits on the legislative effort.

“If it doesn’t pass this session, I’ll reintroduce it,” Fontana said.