- A new bill that was proposed in Pennsylvania would restrict sports betting sites and iGaming operators from allowing players to use their platforms at schools from kindergarten to high school.
- They will still be allowed to operate on college campuses.
HARRISBURG, Penn. – In an attempt to curb underage gambling, a Pennsylvanian politician proposed a bill that would prevent online sports betting and online casinos on school grounds, from kindergarten to high school.
HB 2631, introduced by Rep. Jason Ortitay, would require legal sports betting sites and iGaming operators to “geofence” schools in Pennsylvania, which would block users from playing in designated areas.
There are 500 public school districts in the state with some containing as many as 140,000 students, as well as 174 charter schools which educate over 135,000 total students.
However, the bill does not prohibit operations on college campuses. This is likely due to multiple factors, such as total area, older demographics, and avoiding a potential lawsuit that could arise from sports betting operators if they consider it to be an overreach.
Underage gambling is a concern primarily because of its link to problem gambling, which can develop in many cases when users begin young and subconsciously develop an addiction or put themselves in a hole financially.
Ortitay dedicated the bill to Ray Mikesell, a Pennsylvania student who developed a gambling addiction as a student that would ultimately cost him his life. His father, Raymond Mikesell Sr., reached out to Ortitay asking for him to find a way to prevent other kids from going down the same path.
Should the bill eventually be approved, it would take effect 60 days after being signed into law by the governor, forcing sports betting sites in Pennsylvania to halt operations on school grounds.
