Pennsylvania lawmakers propose online gambling restrictions in House Bill 2879

Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced House Bill 2879, legislation that would impose new rules on online gambling and mobile sports betting in the state. The bill, titled an act providing for Online Gambling Public Health and Consumer Protection, has been referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee.

Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia) is the lead sponsor, and the House version carries the backing of eight Democrats plus one Republican. Khan and the cosponsors told lawmakers in a memo that problem gambling is now widely viewed as a public health matter, citing what they called "the significant harm it can cause to mental health, financial security, and family stability." The memo also warned that aggressive marketing by operators and the continued growth of online gambling are fueling worries about debt, mental health and overall well-being.

Deposits into online sportsbook and casino accounts would be capped at two per day under the measure. Payment methods would be narrowed as well: credit cards and government assistance cards would be off limits, and gift cards for online gambling would be outlawed. A consumer could put in up to $5,000 over any 180-day stretch, and going beyond that would require the sportsbook or iGaming platform to run a formal affordability check confirming the person can absorb further losses.

Consumers between the ages of 21 and 25 would be subject to tighter rules. On online casino games, their wagers could not exceed $2 per play. A loss of $750 within one day, or $2,500 within one month, would automatically set off a cooling-off period lasting 30 days.

Before placing an initial wager, a bettor would have to establish loss limits covering both a day and a month. A reduction in those limits would apply right away, but an increase would have to wait out a cooling-off period.

Sportsbooks would have to drop microbets and proposition bets as part of their consumer-safety obligations. The bill would also outlaw sign-up bonuses, bonus bets, VIP programs and push notifications that solicit wagers or deposits. Advertisements could not use terms like "risk-free," and gambling ads would be barred from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and during live sports broadcasts.

Critics of HB 2879 contend that tough rules would instead benefit unregulated offshore sites and apps by handing them a marketing edge. Such platforms sit beyond U.S. jurisdiction and are unregulated, so they ignore state law and the consumer protections that Khan and his cosponsors want to put in place. Licensed sportsbooks and legal iGaming operators counter that they already work to encourage responsible play, and that shielding consumers from gambling harm is central to keeping their businesses viable over time.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly's 2026 session ends on 30 November, and legislation that is not passed does not carry over to 2027.