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- Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would require licensed online gambling operators to block sports betting and casino app access on school property.
- The proposal centers on tighter geolocation controls and reflects a wider push for stronger underage-gambling safeguards.
A proposal in Pennsylvania would require licensed sports betting and online casino operators to use enhanced geolocation or geofencing technology to prevent app access while a user is physically on school grounds.
According to the source report, state Rep. Jason Ortitay is leading the responsible gambling effort. The measure would create digital exclusion zones around schools – covering classrooms, buildings, playgrounds, and sports fields.
Pennsylvania already requires licensed internet gambling firms to use geolocation tools to ensure users are within state borders. The new proposal would build on that framework by adding a more specific location-based restriction tied to school property.
Online Gambling System for Adults
Ortitay said the state’s regulated online gambling system was not designed for use in educational settings.
“Pennsylvania has authorized interactive gaming and sports wagering under a licensed and regulated framework. That framework was built for adults making lawful choices. It was never intended to reach into our classrooms. Yet today, a student can sit in a classroom or stand on a playground and, using a smartphone, access online gaming and sports betting platforms. In some cases, minors are using a parent’s account and credentials to do so.”
The report also notes that licensed sites already use age checks, identity checks, and self-exclusion measures. Lawmakers’ concern is that minors could still gain access by using a parent’s account.
Looking beyond legalization
For operators, the bill would point to a more detailed compliance obligation. Companies already using geolocation to satisfy state-border rules could be required to apply that technology more precisely around schools.
The proposal also fits a broader consumer-protection trend. Pennsylvania lawmakers have considered Colorado’s approach while formulating legislation. Other Pennsylvania gambling bills would limit deposits, restrict certain betting through push notifications, and ban credit cards for online gambling.
Taken together, those efforts suggest lawmakers are looking beyond legalization itself and focusing more closely on how online gambling products are accessed, funded, and marketed.
Based on reporting by Sudhanshu Ranjan for Sigma.
