Pennsylvania Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Cap Online Gambling Deposits and Restrict Predatory Marketing

Pennsylvania state Representatives Tarik Khan, a Democrat from Philadelphia, and Jamie Flick, a Republican from Lycoming, announced a bipartisan package of online gambling consumer protection bills on June 3, 2026, targeting deposit limits, predatory marketing, and credit card use in online gaming accounts. The legislation, which the pair plan to formally introduce in the coming weeks, would create the Pennsylvania Online Consumer Protection Act and represents the state’s most comprehensive effort yet to address problem gambling in the digital betting space.

The announcement comes as online gambling has expanded significantly in Pennsylvania, which was among the first states to legalize both online casino gaming and sports betting. The state currently has one of the most mature regulated iGaming markets in the country, with multiple licensed operators offering slots, table games, poker, and sports wagering to residents.

What the Bills Would Do

The legislative package includes several distinct components addressing different areas of online gambling consumer protection. The centerpiece Pennsylvania Online Consumer Protection Act would establish limits on how frequently individuals can make deposits into online gaming accounts, restrict what the sponsors described as “predatory marketing practices” — including push notifications and text message solicitations — and create new safeguards against advertising that targets minors.

A companion bill in the package would prohibit the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts, a measure that mirrors laws passed in Colorado and New Jersey. Concerns about credit card deposits center on the ease with which problem gamblers can accumulate debt by depositing money they do not have. Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a similar credit card ban into law in June 2026.

A third component would prohibit gaming operators from sending advertisements, promotions, or other marketing materials to individuals who have voluntarily enrolled in Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion program. That program currently allows residents to ban themselves from licensed casinos, internet gambling platforms, and video gaming terminals. Sending targeted gambling promotions to people who have specifically asked to be excluded has drawn criticism from responsible gambling advocates as counterproductive to the program’s purpose.

Companion Legislation Already in Committee

The House bills are companion measures to Senate legislation introduced by state Senator Wayne Fontana, a Democrat from Brookline, in December 2024. Fontana’s bills addressing credit card deposits and self-exclusion marketing have been sitting in committee since February 2025. The new House versions introduced by Khan and Flick give those proposals a second path through the legislature and increase the chances that at least some elements of the consumer protection framework advance during the current session.

“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,” the sponsors said in a joint statement. Pennsylvania’s online gambling industry has continued to grow since launching in 2019, and advocates argue that consumer protection rules have not kept pace with the expansion of the market.

For bettors in Pennsylvania, the proposed legislation would most directly affect how they fund accounts, how frequently they receive promotional messages, and how operators communicate with players who have voluntarily sought help. Players with accounts at licensed Pennsylvania sportsbooks or online casinos should monitor the bills’ progress as they move through committee. A broader look at online casinos in Pennsylvania shows the range of operators that would be subject to the new rules if passed into law.