Pennsylvania proposes sweeping responsible gambling reforms
Pennsylvania lawmakers and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) have proposed a broad package of responsible gambling reforms following the release of the Joint State Government Commission’s report, Sports Betting and Related Interactive Gambling in Pennsylvania.
The report, commissioned under House Resolution 60, recommends immediate and long-term measures to reduce gambling-related harm. Separately, the PGCB has proposed regulatory changes covering responsible gambling programmes, player protections, advertising standards, and self-exclusion.
The proposals represent comprehensive reviews of Pennsylvania’s regulated gambling market and could reshape responsible gambling requirements for licensed operators.
Gambling laws under review
A recent study undertaken by the Joint State Government Commission revealed several social difficulties associated with gambling. According to studies, excessive gambling is associated with debt, mental illness, marital problems, domestic violence, potential threats to college athletes, and greater rates of suicide in certain population groups.
While the Commission’s research does not modify Pennsylvania’s laws, it does serve as a guideline for state policymakers. In particular, the research suggests two major approaches: immediate efforts to help resolve gambling problems and longer-term options that require the utilisation of player data to understand their behaviour.
Policymakers have the authority to impose changes based on evidence, but gathering behavioural data can help make rules more focused on people at risk without limiting others.
Legislative recommendations
The Commission’s report includes ideas that could transform Pennsylvania’s gambling laws by moving responsibility from operators to legislators and prioritising consumer protection.
The recommendations are banning live in-game betting to avoid impulse betting, banning the use of credit cards to prevent debt, establishing mandatory betting limits to ensure responsible betting, restricting gambling advertisements to limit exposure, restricting VIP programmes to remove excessive incentives, banning AI-enabled marketing to end personalised targeting of vulnerable people, and banning push notifications to logged-out users to prevent unsolicited notifications.
While some measures could reduce revenue, supporters argue that prioritising harm reduction ultimately benefits society.
One of the most forward-looking proposals addresses AI-assisted promotions. As artificial intelligence becomes more capable of analysing player behaviour, it could be used to deliver highly personalised offers. Lawmakers worry this might target vulnerable individuals and encourage risky betting.
By acting early, Pennsylvania aims to prevent misuse of AI in gambling marketing. The focus is not on banning AI entirely but on restricting its use in ways that could exploit high-risk players.
PGCB’s proposed rule changes
While lawmakers debate broader reforms, the PGCB has introduced its own regulatory updates for licensed operators. Published for public comment in July 2026, these proposals aim to strengthen responsible gambling standards across online platforms.
The PGCB emphasises giving players more control over their activity. Operators would need to provide easier options for setting deposit, spending, and wagering limits. Players could also suspend their accounts for up to one year.
Monthly reports on self-limitation and self-exclusion would be needed to assist authorities in monitoring trends and improving oversight. Another proposal allows users to opt out of direct communications, ensuring that people attempting to reduce or stop gambling are not targeted with offers.
The PGCB recommends banning marketing targeting self-excluded members and limiting advertising of gambling products to individuals or groups known to be more vulnerable to gambling-related harm. The wording used in advertisements would also be regulated. Terms such as ‘free bet’ and ‘risk free’ may be prohibited when a player’s own money is still at stake.
Trend towards responsible gambling
The review in Pennsylvania illustrates general trends in the United States. The primary goal of legalisation was to eliminate the illicit market and collect revenue through taxes; nonetheless, it has become evident that precautionary measures should be implemented to avoid any negative consequences.
Colorado was the first state to prohibit sportsbooks from sending betting offers via push notifications or allowing players to pay with credit cards when gambling online. The state also prohibited terms such as “bonus bet” and “no sweat” that could be misinterpreted.
New York approved laws requiring bookmakers to provide monthly account statements detailing betting history, wins, and losses, giving players a better understanding of their activity.
New Jersey and other states are also looking into advertising reforms, suggesting a growing national understanding that consumer protection must develop as gambling systems mature.
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