PA Bill Wants Ban on Credit Card Funding for Gambling Accounts

Summary:

• Bill 1159 looks to ban credit card use for online gambling and sports betting in PA.
• The ban would cover the funding of sports betting apps, along with iLottery and daily fantasy sports accounts.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are looking to ban the use of credit cards for funding online gambling accounts.

According to Senator Wayne Fontana‘s Senate Bill 1159, the list would include a variety of accounts, including online casino, sports betting, sports betting apps, iLottery, and daily fantasy sports.

“An Obligation to Make Sure People Do Not Get Addicted”

Fontana spoke about young players ages between 18 and 30 who are currently engaging in online gambling, “running it up on their credit cards”.

He added that the state’s partnership with online gambling operators forces them to ensure “people do not get addicted”.

Last month, the Democrat Senator whose bill has six co-sponsors, sent a memo to his chamber in which he detailed statistics regarding problem gambling.

His memo also spoke about the way the average Pennsylvanian’s credit card debt of over $5,600.

The memo also cited an online gambling report from Penn State University which revealed that 36% of customers in PA are dealing with at least one gambling problem.

While the state offers a hotline dedicated to problem gamblers and issues continuous warnings, the issue requires “a more substantial approach”, as Fontata explained, “especially with our young people”.

Further speaking about the bill that would ban credit card usage, Fontana called it “consumer protection” that should be understood and embraced by both Democrats and Republicans, given its simplicity.

PA to Join Three Other US States With Credit Card Bans

Provided Senator Bill 1159 manages to generate sufficient support to give the legislature the green light, the Keystone State will join three other states that have adopted the same credit card finding prohibition measures.

The three states are Iowa, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.

Currently, online gamblers can fund their accounts, including sports betting accounts, via cash deposits using apps like Venmo and PayPal.

They are also allowed to use debit cards or fund their accounts via ACH transfers.

Fontana expects more co-sponsors to join in on showing support for his bill, which would eventually help him push for an initial committee hearing in the upcoming weeks.

In case the bill does not come out with flying colors this year, Fontana plans to introduce it again in 2025.