Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking another look at how sports betting and online gambling are regulated. A new Problem Gambling Caucus has formed to push for stronger consumer protections, including restrictions on advertising, live betting, and deposits. The move comes as concerns grow about gambling addiction, particularly among younger adults.
The bipartisan caucus was announced earlier this week, with lawmakers calling for tougher safeguards across the state’s gambling industry.
According to ABC27’s report, the group wants to limit gambling advertising, protect minors from exposure, as well as introduce limits on gaming sessions and deposits. Lawmakers are also considering restrictions on live betting, since those wagers settle quickly and can influence impulsive gambling.
Another concern is how easily customers can move money into betting accounts. Lawmakers want to examine features that allow users to make large deposits almost instantly, potentially encouraging excessive gambling.
The goal is to create clearer rules that protect consumers while treating gambling addiction as a public health issue. The caucus was announced near the end of Pennsylvania’s legislative session and is expected to begin meeting in January 2027.
According to the ABC27 report, the new initiative follows a Penn State University report estimating Pennsylvania’s problem gambling rate at up to 6.4%, more than twice the national average cited by lawmakers.
Rep. Jamie Flick raised concerns about the accessibility of gambling apps, pointing out that smartphones have made betting available around the clock.
Lawmakers also questioned whether younger consumers understand the risks of sports betting. Rep. Ben Sanchez cited research suggesting that 40% of Gen Z respondents believe sports betting is a form of investing.
This comes as concerns over problem gambling continue to grow. Earlier this month, new figures showed an 18% increase in gambling self-exclusions, with more than 30,000 people enrolled in at least one of the state’s exclusion programs.
The increase has added to questions about whether existing responsible gambling measures are enough to protect users.
Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced proposals to strengthen sports betting regulations, including restrictions on advertising, deposits, and credit card use.
Those proposals included daily deposit limits for online gambling accounts and restrictions on promotional text messages and push notifications. Other measures sought to prevent operators from marketing to customers who had voluntarily enrolled in self-exclusion programs.
The new caucus could give those efforts more attention by bringing lawmakers together to focus specifically on problem gambling.
Pennsylvania’s gambling industry continues to generate significant revenue, making tougher restrictions a complicated issue for lawmakers.
The state recently surpassed a record $7 billion in annual gambling revenue, with online casinos playing a major role in that growth. Pennsylvania also collected approximately $3.1 billion in gambling taxes and fees during the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Sen. Joe Picozzi argued that the financial benefits of legalized gambling shouldn’t outweigh the harm caused when customers lose money they can’t afford to lose. To that end, lawmakers are trying to come up with a way to help combat problem gambling with more restrictions while not negatively impacting the market overall.
