US Betting Market Cuts Credit Cards, bet365 Move Shows Deeper Change

Key Points

• bet365 stops credit card deposits across all US platforms from 13 April.
• Major operators like BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings take the same steps.
• Lawmakers across states increase limits on credit-based gambling.

For years, using a credit card to fund a betting account felt normal, it moved fast and users barely noticed its impact. Now that belief starts to weaken and users feel a shift in how things work. What seems like a small payment change connects to a wider reset in how gambling runs across the United States.

bet365 removes credit cards as a deposit option across its US platforms, and this change starts from 13 April. From that moment, customers cannot fund accounts using credit payments anymore. However, deposits made before the deadline stay available and users can still use them fully.

At first glance, this appears like a system update. In truth, it reflects a shared view that gambling with borrowed money no longer fits business or policy direction.

What Takes the Place of Credit Cards?

Removing a payment method brings tension for users, so replacement options carry equal weight in this shift.

Players still deposit funds using debit cards and Apple Pay, but a key rule exists. Apple Pay accounts linked to credit cards do not qualify under this system. This step blocks any path that could bypass the restriction and keeps the intent clear. Digital wallets like PayPal remain active, and users can also deposit cash at selected retail points. The structure follows a clear idea, all methods depend on existing money or direct cash use.

This restriction applies only to the US market. In Canada, including Ontario, credit cards remain accepted. That difference shows how regulation, not only company choice, drives the direction.

Operators Follow a Shared Path

bet365 does not act alone, instead it moves within a pattern that grows across the industry.

BetMGM started removing credit card deposits near the end of March. From 31 March 2026, users cannot add new credit cards to their accounts. Existing cards still work for now, but removal will happen in stages. No final date exists yet, leaving users in a period of change.

FanDuel removed credit card deposits earlier in February.

DraftKings applied its ban back in August 2025. DraftKings explained the step as a way to help users avoid fees and interest tied to credit use. That reason shows something deeper. The industry shifts not only due to rules, but also changes how it views user responsibility.

Regulation Pushes the Change Forward

Operators present these changes as support for users, but regulatory pressure speeds up the process. DraftKings made its earlier move after direct action from regulators. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission issued a $450,000 fine for allowing credit card deposits against the rules. This penalty created a signal that others could not ignore. The same regulator now reviews Bet365’s entry into the Massachusetts market. The company shows interest, and officials reopen the licensing process. This adds another layer where compliance decides access.

States Increase Control on Gambling Payments

Lawmakers shape the system at a wider level beyond individual operators.

In Maine, Governor Janet Mills signed a law that bans credit cards for gambling. The law also targets sweepstakes casino models and large lottery purchases. Virginia moves in a similar direction. House Bill 515 reaches Governor Abigail Spanberger and proposes removing credit cards from approved methods. Other states follow this movement.  Efforts appear in New Jersey, New York, Colorado, and Maryland.  At the same time, states like Iowa, Illinois, Oregon, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Vermont already apply restrictions. These actions together show a clear direction. The system changes at its core rather than making small adjustments.

Why Credit Cards Became the Focus?

This shift raises one clear question about why credit cards face such focus. The answer connects to user behaviour when money comes from credit.

Borrowed funds reduce the sense of loss and users may spend more without noticing the early impact. Fees and interest then build over time and create longer financial pressure. By removing credit cards, regulators and operators try to set a limit. Users can only gamble with money they already hold. This change affects more than policy, it alters how betting feels and works.

Where the Industry Moves Next?

The pattern now becomes hard to miss as changes appear across all levels. Operators align their systems. Regulators tighten frameworks. States expand restrictions further. Payment methods now sit at the centre of gambling control. What began as separate actions now forms a combined shift away from credit-based betting. As more states review rules and operators update platforms, the direction becomes fixed.

The message stays clear and direct, the future of online betting in the US depends on controlled funding, not borrowed risk.