Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Khan, Flick introduce bipartisan package to address problem gambling and strengthen consumer protections

Khan, Flick introduce bipartisan package to address problem gambling and strengthen consumer protections

Rep. Tarik Khan    June 3, 2026 | 10:02 AM

HARRISBURG, June 3 — State Representatives Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and Jamie Flick, R-Lycoming/Union, today announced a bipartisan package of legislation aimed at addressing problem gambling as a public health issue and strengthening consumer protections for Pennsylvanians who participate in online gambling.

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. 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.

Problem gambling is increasingly recognized as a public health issue because of the significant harm it can cause to mental health, financial security and family stability. As online gambling continues to expand and operators employ increasingly aggressive marketing tactics, concerns continue to grow about its impact on debt, mental health and overall well-being. These concerns are particularly acute among young adults, especially young men, who are increasingly exposed to online gambling platforms and targeted advertising.

This bipartisan package of bills draws from bipartisan legislation introduced in Pennsylvania and Colorado that seeks to address problem gambling through commonsense consumer protections, responsible gaming measures and public health-focused safeguards.

The package includes:

  • The Pennsylvania Online Consumer Protection Act, which would establish reasonable limits on the frequency of deposits into online gambling accounts within a 24-hour period, restrict predatory marketing practices such as push notifications and text message solicitations, strengthen protections against youth-targeted advertising and expand investments in prevention, education, treatment and responsible gaming programs.
  • Legislation prohibiting the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts (House companion to SB 265).
  • Legislation strengthening Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion program by prohibiting gambling operators from marketing to individuals who have voluntarily placed themselves on the self-exclusion list (House companion to SB 266).

“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.

“Too many young people are being exposed to online gambling through constant advertising and unprecedented access from their phones and devices,” Flick said. “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.”

Together, the bills take a balanced approach that protects consumers, supports responsible gaming and treats problem gambling as the public health issue it is.

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