Pennsylvania Representative Jason Ortitay has introduced legislation that would require licensed online gambling and sports betting operators to prevent access to their platforms from within school grounds.
House Bill 2631 aims to address concerns that students are able to access online gambling during the school day, including cases where minors use a parent or guardian's account credentials to place bets or play online casino games on personal devices.
Under the proposal, operators would be required to use geospatial technology already employed to ensure gambling takes place only within Pennsylvania state borders.
The legislation would extend that capability by creating digital boundaries around schools, preventing gambling platforms from functioning while users are on school property, regardless of whose account is being used.
Ortitay said the measure is intended to reinforce the separation between regulated adult gambling and educational environments, arguing that the technology needed to implement the restriction is already widely available.
The bill has been introduced in memory of South Fayette Township resident Ray Mikesell, whose gambling addiction began while he was still a student. According to Ortitay, Mikesell's father approached lawmakers seeking measures that could help prevent similar experiences for other families.
The proposal was developed in coordination with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), which has expressed support for the approach.
Ortitay said the legislation builds on previous responsible gambling initiatives, including efforts to consolidate the state's problem gambling resources under the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline.
House Bill 2631 will now be considered by the House Gaming Oversight Committee as lawmakers review whether the additional location-based restrictions should become part of Pennsylvania's regulated online gambling framework.
The legislation is the latest in a series of gambling-related protection measures introduced in Pennsylvania. Earlier this month, Representatives Tarik Khan and Jamie Flick put forward a separate package including an Online Consumer Protection Act, a credit card funding ban and expanded self-exclusion protections – drawing inspiration from similar legislation recently passed in Colorado.
The proposed legislation follows several recent responsible gambling initiatives in Pennsylvania, including bills aimed at strengthening consumer protections and reducing gambling-related harm
