FanDuel blocks deposits, follows DraftKings' credit betting end
Starting March 2, the giant operated by Flutter Entertainment will eliminate this payment option to prevent user indebtedness. The measure responds to increasing regulatory pressure and alarming statistics about the financial impact on bettors.
The payment landscape in the iGaming industry in the United States is undergoing a radical transformation. FanDuel has announced that it will stop accepting credit cards as a deposit method for its sports betting, online casino, and horse racing verticals. The measure will take effect on March 2, aligning with the decision previously made by its main competitor, DraftKings.
The company explained that the change comes after months of internal review aimed at "improving the deposit experience." However, the transition also seeks to close "loopholes": users will also not be able to use credit cards to fund wallets such as PayPal or FanDuel prepaid cards for betting purposes.
The risk of borrowed money: Concerning figures
The decision is no coincidence. Unlike debit cards, credit cards allow betting with funds that the user does not have in their bank account, which has raised alarms among regulators and lawmakers.
A national study by U.S. News conducted in 2025 revealed the real impact of this practice:
- 25% of sports bettors reported having missed at least one bill payment due to their bets.
- 24% of users used cash advances from their credit cards to finance their wagers, a method that often carries fees of up to $10 for every $20 deposit, in addition to very high interest rates.
Regulatory pressure and record fines
The path to this ban has been marked by exemplary sanctions. DraftKings abandoned credit cards last August, shortly after paying a record fine of $450,000 in Massachusetts for allowing credit deposits in a state where the practice is illegal.
FanDuel also has a history: in 2023, it reached a $110,000 settlement with the Indiana Gaming Commission following a security breach where eight individuals used the same third-party credit card to make 126 fraudulent deposits totaling $145,367.
A global standard in formation
With this measure, the United States begins to align its policies with mature markets such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland, where the use of credit for gambling is already prohibited.
Currently, eight states (including Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Illinois) already prohibit credit card betting, while key markets like New York and New Jersey are evaluating similar legislation. The industry seems to be accepting a new standard: prioritizing compliance and consumer protection over the convenience of immediate deposits.
Tags: United States, USA, Fanduel, Draftkings, card deposits in betting