Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would bring heavy restrictions to microbets, VIP programmes, and gambling losses reporting.
The proposal, introduced by Tarik Khan and Jamie Flick, comes as lawmakers launch a new bipartisan Problem Gambling Caucus focused on the public health impact of online betting and casino gaming. It also follows a state-backed study released earlier this year that examined online gambling behaviour, consumer protections and industry practices.
The bill would prohibit microbets, defined as wagers placed during a live sporting event on individual plays or actions within the game. It would also ban VIP and loyalty programmes that reward customers for gambling more frequently, depositing more money or increasing their losses.
Speaking about the proposal, Khan said: “Problem gambling ruins lives and destroys families. That’s why I pushed for this statewide study in the first place.”
“This study became the foundation of our bipartisan legislation to hold these Wall Street bookies accountable and protect Pennsylvania families.”
Bill backed by Pennsylvania 2026 gambling study
Supporters of the legislation point to findings contained in a Pennsylvania gambling study, which reported that a small percentage of players account for a large share of industry revenue.
The bill’s legislative findings cite research showing that 5.7% of online sports bettors generated 80% of betting expenditures, while VIP customers at one online sportsbook represented about 0.5% of users but generated more than 70% of revenue.
The proposal would also create mandatory loss limits. Players aged 21 to 25 would be blocked from further gambling after losses of $750 in a day or $2,500 over 30 days, while older adults would face limits of $1,500 over 24 hours and $5,000 over 30 days.
Before placing a first wager, players would also be required to set their own daily and monthly loss limits.
Credit cards, autoplay and betting incentives in the firing line
The legislation goes beyond betting limits. It would prohibit the use of credit cards and government assistance cards to fund online gambling accounts and restrict deposits above certain thresholds unless operators complete affordability checks; a similar bill introduced earlier this year already pushed for these reforms.
Operators would also be unable to offer autoplay features or games that reveal an outcome in less than 15 seconds. The bill would require mandatory breaks and time limits, with players restricted to a default maximum of two hours of online gambling activity per day unless reduced by the player.
The bill would ban push notifications encouraging betting or deposits, limit the use of artificial intelligence to target customers based on gambling behaviour and prohibit a wide range of bonus-driven promotions. It would also prevent operators from using VIP hosts and restrict advertisements that appeal to young adults or minors.
“We need to make sure the next generation isn’t being drawn into gambling addiction before they fully understand the risks. This bipartisan bill puts meaningful protections in place, especially for young adults who are particularly vulnerable,” Flick added.
