Pennsylvania Representatives Tarik Khan and Jamie Flick have introduced a package of legislation aimed at strengthening consumer protections for iGaming players and addressing problem gambling as a public health issue.
The legislation would establish an Online Consumer Protection Act, which limits deposit frequency within a 24-hour period, restricts push notifications, heightens safeguards for youth-targeted advertising and expands responsible gambling investments.
Additionally, Khan and Flick’s legislation package would prohibit the use of credit cards to fund online gambling accounts and ban operators from sending marketing materials to individuals who voluntarily enrolled in Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion program.
Khan spoke on the new bill package, having said, “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.”
The Pennsylvania bills draw inspiration from recent legislation passed in Colorado, which introduced public health-focused safeguards and commonsense consumer safeguards.
“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.”
On May 22, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) issued four separate fines totaling $180,000, including a $50,000 fine to Wind Creek Bethlehem for failing to follow know your customer (KYC) protocols, resulting in fraudulent iGaming account withdrawals of over $92,000.
Fantasy contest operator YFS Sub, which currently serves as a subsidiary of Yahoo Fantasy Sports, was issued a $50,000 fine for failing to notify and gain approval from the Board for a change of control of its license.
Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment received two separate $40,000 fines from the PGCB, with the first stemming from three occasions of allowing underage individuals to access its gaming floor and play slot machines or table games.
Greentube announced a new partnership with Hollywood Casino on April 8, expanding its presence in Pennsylvania as part of its ongoing push across regulated US iGaming markets
