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Subcommittee backs bill to ban credit‑card deposits for online sports wagering
Summary
The General Law Subcommittee reported HB 515 (9‑0), a consumer‑protection bill by Delegate Martinez that would prohibit credit‑card deposits to online sports sportsbooks, citing research linking credit funding to greater gambling losses and increased harm among young adults.
Delegate Martinez introduced HB 515 as a consumer‑protection measure aimed at reducing gambling‑related financial harm by banning credit‑card deposits to online sports sportsbooks. "Sports gambling is here and it's here to stay," Martinez said in describing the scale of online wagering activity, and he argued that allowing credit cards disconnects bets from real‑time affordability and amplifies harm.
The bill seeks to prohibit credit‑card deposits while leaving debit, bank transfers and other payment methods available. Martinez noted industry and regulatory precedent, saying DraftKings had stopped accepting credit cards and that several states already prohibit credit‑card gambling. He urged the committee to "take a meaningful step towards reducing preventable gambling‑related harm."
Member Douglas Price asked whether the Virginia Lottery accepts credit cards for online play; Martinez replied that the Virginia Lottery does not permit credit cards online. The sponsor cited data from the Virginia Lottery for a mid‑year period (presented as July 1 to Nov. 2025) showing large online wager volumes and a reported net loss figure in the testimony; those figures were presented as context for the bill's consumer‑protection rationale.
A supporter in the hearing said the presentation covered their talking points and expressed strong backing for the measure. The subcommittee voted to report HB 515 by voice and the clerk recorded a roll call that the bill reports 9 to 0 and will move to the next stage for further consideration.
