A pair of Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking to better address problem gambling in the sports betting and casino industry.
Reps. Tarik Khan and Jamie Flick announced this week a package of bills looking to address problem gambling in the Pennsylvania sports betting and gambling markets. The lawmakers hope the three bills, called Protecting Public Health in Online Gambling, can help rein in issues that have increased since Pennsylvania online casinos and sportsbooks launched.
“Since sports betting and online gambling were legalized nearly a decade ago, Pennsylvanians have gained around-the-clock access to online casinos and sportsbooks from virtually anywhere through their phones, tablets, and computers,” the package’s memo reads. “While many individuals gamble responsibly, the explosive growth of online gambling, coupled with increasingly aggressive marketing practices and a lack of commonsense guardrails, has raised concerns about addiction, significant personal debt, and the impact of problem gambling on individuals, families, and communities.”
The lawmakers said they built the package on language already in circulation in Pennsylvania, as well as Colorado. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation this week with similar components.
Pennsylvania sports betting bill would limit deposits
The first bill would establish limits on the frequency of deposits within a 24-hour period.
It would also restrict what the bill calls predatory marketing practices, including push notifications and text message solicitations. Additionally, it would look to eliminate any ads targeted at youth audiences.
“Too many young people are being exposed to online gambling through constant advertising and unprecedented access from their phones and devices,” Flick said in another release. “These bills are about putting reasonable safeguards in place, promoting responsible gaming and helping ensure that young people and families are protected from gambling-related harm.”
No advertising to those excluded from Pennsylvania sports betting
The second bill would prohibit operators from sending advertisements, promotions or bonuses to individuals who voluntarily enroll in the state’s self-exclusion program.
The bills also increase investment in prevention, education, treatment and responsible gambling programs.
“As a nurse practitioner, I believe we should address problem gambling the same way we address other public health challenges: with prevention, education, treatment and commonsense safeguards. Our bipartisan bill package will help protect young people, individuals and families while supporting responsible gaming,” Khan said.
The last bill would prohibit the use of credit cards to fund gambling accounts.
Colorado Gov. signs bill
Polis signed SB131 on Tuesday.
That bill prohibits more than six deposits from an individual into a sports betting account over a 24-hour period. It also prohibits sending push notification or text messages soliciting bets or deposits.
Additionally, the bill bans advertising targeting an audience where the majority is likely to be under 21 years of age.
Rise in guardrail bills
Connecticut lawmakers passed this year to banning online gambling ads on college campuses.
Louisiana lawmakers, meanwhile, passed legislation banning bettors that harass athletes.
There are also strong efforts in Washington to tighten sports betting guardrails. Last month, Sens. Katie Britt and Richard Blumenthal introduced legislation looking to prohibit social media companies and websites from targeting minors with sports betting ads. Both Senators have been active with other responsible gambling related efforts.
