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On May 15, 2026, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats led by Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline) hosted a roundtable at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to discuss responsible online gambling in Pennsylvania. Attendees included state lawmakers, public health advocates, and experts from organizations such as the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (CCGP).
Pennsylvania’s gambling revenue hits record $6.8 billion
Fueled by an increase of over 27% in iGaming revenue, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported that 2025 combined gaming revenue reached a record high — the fifth consecutive year of growth. The total came to $6,796,211,719, reflecting a 10.74% increase over 2024.
Gaming tax revenue also nearly reached $3 billion, growing 12% from the previous year. Sports betting contributed $602.5 million in revenue, an 18% increase over 2024. Sen. Fontana opened the roundtable by citing these figures as evidence of the state’s rapidly expanding gambling landscape.
Problem gambling surges as helpline calls reach all-time high
The surge in revenue has been accompanied by a steep rise in problem gambling. Roundtable participants noted a sharp increase in calls to the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline, which received its highest call volume ever in 2025. Participants also observed that more people are now reaching out via chat and text.
Revenues from sports betting have increased 616% since 2019, Pennsylvania’s first full year of legalized sports betting, and online gaming revenues have increased 390% since 2020. Despite this growth, one participant noted that only 0.2% of adults showing signs of problem gambling actually seek help, suggesting the true scale of the crisis is far larger than helpline data reflects.
Carnegie Mellon sports gambling professor Linda Moya put it plainly: “It’s like we are treating the issue just by individuals, instead of a societal issue.” Participants agreed the problem must be addressed at the systemic level, not just the individual one. Many affected Pennsylvanians deal with significant credit card debt, strained relationships, and mental health challenges as a result of gambling addiction.
Youth gambling exposure grows as ads and apps proliferate
One of the roundtable’s most pressing concerns was the growing exposure of young people to online gambling. Carnegie Mellon professor Ron Yurko described the current environment as “frictionless” for gambling. He and other participants noted that older teenagers are placing sports bets even during class.
Calls to the gambling helpline from adults ages 18 to 35 have increased significantly since sports betting was legalized and accelerated further after the COVID-19 pandemic — a notable shift, given that problem gambling calls have historically skewed older.
Participants also flagged the near-impossibility of shielding children from gambling advertising, which now appears across virtually every digital platform. The consensus was that young people need to be equipped to critically evaluate gambling content and marketing.
New legislation targets consumer protections
In response to these concerns, Sen. Fontana discussed two bills he introduced to strengthen consumer protections.
SB 265 would prohibit the use of credit cards to fund sports betting, fantasy sports, online casino, and iLottery accounts in Pennsylvania. In his sponsorship memo, Fontana noted that “gambling and credit card debt often go hand in hand” and flagged that the average Pennsylvanian already carries a credit card balance exceeding $5,640.
While major operators, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars, have already voluntarily banned credit card deposits, Fontana argued that a statutory requirement is necessary to ensure the restriction cannot be reversed at a company’s discretion.
SB 266 would prohibit casinos and gaming operators from directly marketing or sending promotions to individuals on the state’s self-exclusion list. The bill proposes higher fines and tougher penalties for operators that violate this restriction, addressing concerns that targeted advertising can draw vulnerable individuals back into gambling.
Both bills have attracted only a handful of co-sponsors and have not advanced out of committee. However, momentum may be building: Pennsylvania Reps. Tarkin Khan and Jamie Flick recently announced a bipartisan package of House companion bills to SB 265 and SB 266, signaling broader legislative interest in the issue. Fontana said his bills should be just the start of addressing gambling addiction in the state.
