The Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill that would ban the use of credit cards for online sports betting.
At a floor session on Wednesday, delegates approved Marty Martinez’s HB 515 by a vote of 94-3. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for further discussion.
The bill would amend the state code to prohibit the Virginia Lottery from allowing sportsbooks to accept credit card deposits or withdrawals from players.
Credit card ban ‘straightforward’ consumer protection, says sponsor
The bill moved quickly through the House in the early weeks of 2026. First introduced on Jan. 13, it took just over two weeks to sweep through the House, being approved by unanimous votes in the Gaming subcommittee (9-0) and subsequently the General Laws committee (21-0). It was read a second time and advanced via voice vote on Jan. 27, and passed via official vote the following day.
“Senate Bill 515 is a straightforward consumer protection bill,” Martinez said at the Gaming subcommittee meeting last week. “Allowing gambling with credit cards encourages people to wager with money they do not actually have. Credit removes a natural safeguard. When somebody gambles with cash or debit card, losses are felt immediately. Credit cards, however, delay that pain signal and the financial consequences are postponed, therefore making it easier to continue gambling beyond safe limits. Research and regulatory experience consistently show that access to credit amplifies gambling behavior and it is strongly associated with higher losses and reduced self-control.”
Martinez noted that the Virginia Lottery already does not allow credit cards for lottery play.
“These policies are clear, enforceable and easier to administer than subjective behavior monitoring systems,” he added. “It reduces financial harm, strengthens responsible gambling principles in alliance with existing regulatory precedent and builds public trust in regulated markets.”
A fiscal analysis from the Department of Planning and Budget filed before the committee votes stated that while the bill is not expected to impact state agencies’ operations, there could be an impact on sports betting operators’ revenue.
“It is unknown if it could impact revenues as the Lottery does not have access to the operators’ proprietary financial data to estimate the extent of the transactions that might be impacted,” noted the fiscal impact statement.
Virginia looks to follow other states
Martinez pointed to the fact that other states such as Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Illinois restrict credit card use for gambling via legislation or regulation. He also noted DraftKings‘ decision last year to block credit card use across the U.S.
“These policies are clear, enforceable and easier to administer than subjective behavior monitoring systems,” Martinez added. “It reduces financial harm, strengthens responsible gambling principles in alliance with existing regulatory precedent and builds public trust in regulated markets.” He noted that the Virginia Lottery already does not allow credit cards for lottery play.
Meanwhile, both New York and Maine have their own bills in play this year to ban credit cards for online sports betting. The Maine bill’s sponsor said last week that his state’s recent legalization of online casino gaming intensified the need to ban credit card usage.
VA considers other gaming changes
Other bills to change the state’s online gambling industry are being discussed in both chambers.
One such bill would legalize online casino gaming. Legislators are also considering a pair of bills to establish a new Virginia Gaming Commission to regulate online sports betting and casino gaming, another legislative effort proposes taxing fantasy sports at 10% and there is also a push to add more brick-and-mortar casinos.
