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Pennsylvania lawmakers have formed a Problem Gambling Caucus to address concerns about online sports betting and casino apps. The effort centers on potential safeguards, rather than eliminating gambling.
PennLive reported that the state’s first Problem Gambling Caucus brings together a bipartisan group from both chambers of the General Assembly.
Smartphone Access and Advertising Draw Scrutiny
The caucus was announced with days remaining in the two-year legislative session, according to PennLive. The outlet reported that lawmakers identified easy access to online gambling, advertising and online sports betting as major concerns.
The discussion covers both sports wagering and online casino betting, which are often available within the same app. Rep. Ben Sanchez emphasized the risks of around-the-clock access through smartphones, the outlet reported.
Youth exposure is another focus. Pennsylvania’s legal gambling age for online wagering and casinos is 21, according to PennLive. Rep. Danilo Burgos said gambling ads appeared while his 15-year-old daughter was playing a game on her iPad.
“The amount of advertising towards teens and preteens is unacceptable,” Burgos said, according to PennLive.
Advertising also featured in testimony from Rob Minnick, who described his experience with gambling addiction. PennLive reported that Minnick said his gambling began with daily fantasy sports and expanded to other forms of wagering, including online crypto casinos and legal sportsbooks.
“When everything is trying to reactivate you and they know more about you than you know about yourself, it presents itself as a very dangerous situation,” Minnick said.
Guardrails Are the Goal; Specific Proposals Remain Open
Lawmakers want to consider guardrails rather than eliminate gambling.
“When people lose their life savings, nobody wins. State revenues are relevant to that, because there’s a huge social cost to that, too,” state Sen. Joe Picozzi said, according to PennLive.
Picozzi also urged lawmakers to begin working quickly because solutions could take years to develop.
More from gamingtoday.com
- Pennsylvania Bill Would Set New Rules for Prediction Markets
- Pennsylvania Report Recommends Ending In-Game Sports Betting to Combat Addiction
Sources: As reported by PennLive.
