A bill that was recently introduced in Illinois aims to provide the state gambling industry with a number of additional regulatory protections.

Illinois Representatives Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago) and Marti Deuter (D-Elmhurst) sponsored House Bill 4149, which would forbid the sale of lottery tickets using credit cards.  At the moment, the Illinois Lottery permits its dealers to take credit cards for game sales.  Customers can also use credit card deposits to fund their online accounts on the lottery's website.

“No person shall sell a lottery ticket or share on a credit basis,” the bill’s proposed amendment to the Illinois Lottery Law reads.

Courier services like Jackpocket and Jackpot are already essentially prohibited from functioning within the Land of Lincoln by the state lottery law.  "No person shall sell a ticket or share at a price greater than that fixed by rule or regulation," according to the legislation.

“No person other than a licensed lottery sales agent or distributor shall sell or resell lottery tickets or shares. No person shall charge a fee to redeem a winning ticket or share,” the Illinois Lottery Law maintains.

Credit Cards for Casinos 

Illinois already prohibits bettors from using credit to finance their gambling accounts at its regulated internet sportsbooks.  In April, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) approved the credit card prohibition for online sportsbooks.

“There is a growing body of recent research showing that restrictions on credit usage to fund wagering accounts mitigate the harms of compulsive gambling. Problem gamblers are particularly at risk, and studies have shown an often-problematic willingness for compulsive gamblers to use credit cards to place bets,” IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter said at the time.

Tarver and Deuter now want to make sure that players at any of the state's 17 actual casino floors are unable to obtain funds to wager on credit.  HB4149 would make it illegal for ATMs in casinos to accept credit card withdrawals.

“An automated teller machine located within a casino shall not be able to perform cash advances on credit cards,” the bill reads. “A person shall not use a credit card to participate in a gambling game.”

Avoid Using Credit Cards for Gambling 

Because the card issuer views the transaction as a short-term cash loan, credit card cash advances are subject to hefty fees, usually ranging from 3% to 5% of the entire amount borrowed.

"A cash advance is a short-term cash loan from your credit card issuer. It’s a convenient way to access cash without having to apply for new credit. However, the costs make it an expensive way to get money in a pinch,” Experian reports.

The costs might be significantly higher for credit card cash advances made within a casino because the banks understandably recognize that the customer is likely to risk the money and so be unable to repay the cash loan.

Credit card cash advances made in casinos or online for iGaming and sports betting accounts typically result in a 10% fee, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).  According to the CFPB, major credit card companies assessed $717 million in fees to customers on $3.6 billion in credit card cash advances in 2022. This amounts to an average rate of around $1 for every $19 spent.

According to the CFPB, gambling on credit also presents threats to one's credit and problem gambling.