Pennsylvania lawmakers want to place new restrictions on sports betting and online casinos. They introduced three bipartisan bills that would ban certain types of wagers, eliminate VIP programs, and limit how much customers can lose. Democratic Rep. Tarik Khan and Republican Rep. Jamie Flick introduced the legislation on October 21, the same day Pennsylvania lawmakers launched their new Problem Gambling Caucus.
The most significant proposal, House Bill 2879, would ban microbetting, which allows customers to wager on individual moments during sporting events. That includes betting on the outcome of the next baseball pitch or whether the next football play will be a run or pass. The bill would also prohibit parlays combining multiple props from the same game.
Another major change would target sportsbook VIP programs, which provide high-spending customers with personalized rewards, promotions, and dedicated account representatives. These programs have faced growing criticism over concerns that operators may encourage customers to continue gambling despite potentially harmful spending patterns.
The issue has also attracted federal attention, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal questioning FanDuel’s use of personalized celebrity videos to reward VIP customers. Pennsylvania’s proposal would go further by prohibiting VIP arrangements that reward increased gambling activity or assign dedicated hosts to users.
The legislation would also impose strict limits on online casino wagers, with tougher restrictions for younger users. Under HB 2879, players between 21 and 25 years old would be limited to $2 per casino wager. Users older than 25 would face a $5 maximum.
The proposal also establishes mandatory loss limits:
Players reaching the daily threshold would be locked out for 24 hours, while exceeding the 30-day limit would trigger a 30-day restriction. These measures would go beyond the voluntary responsible gambling tools currently available at licensed operators.
The other two bills would introduce additional consumer protections. House Bill 2875 would prohibit credit cards from being used to fund online gambling accounts, while House Bill 2874 would strengthen safeguards for people enrolled in Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion program.
The broader legislative package would also restrict gambling advertisements during live sporting events and between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Additional measures would limit marketing near schools and college campuses, along with promotions featuring celebrities, athletes, and influencers who appeal to younger audiences.
Lawmakers also want to restrict the use of AI and customer data to target individuals based on their gambling losses or potential vulnerability. These proposals build on the Problem Gambling Caucus’s push to restrict live betting and sportsbook advertising, which has brought renewed attention to gambling regulation in the state.
