Pennsylvania Lawmakers Form Bipartisan Problem Gambling Caucus to Confront Mobile Betting Risks
Pennsylvania formed a bipartisan Problem Gambling Caucus to target mobile gambling addiction, compared to drugs. The group cites $6.8B in 2025 losses, 30% adult online gambling participation, and rising calls from ages 18-24. It will meet starting January 2027 to advance ad limits and education.
SCCG Take — Operators should prepare for stricter advertising rules and responsible gaming mandates as the caucus works to address social costs tied to record revenues.
Pennsylvania lawmakers have formed a bipartisan caucus to confront what they describe as a growing gambling addiction crisis fueled by mobile devices.
State Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-Philadelphia), Rep. Ben Sanchez (D-Montgomery) and Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming) announced the creation of the Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Caucus on Oct. 21, 2026. The group will begin meeting in January 2027 during the General Assembly’s legislative session.
“The drug of choice is no longer marijuana or meth. The drug of choice now sits in your pocket,” Flick said during the caucus’s formation announcement on Wednesday (Oct. 21).
The caucus plans to prioritize reducing youth exposure to gambling ads and launching public education campaigns on the risks of casinos, sports betting and iGaming.
Picozzi said, “With sports betting and online casinos just a tap away, we need to make sure our laws and consumer protections keep pace. That means taking a serious look at gambling addiction, protecting young adults and other vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and promoting responsible gaming.”
He emphasized finding “commonsense solutions” across party lines. Picozzi added, “When people lose their life savings, nobody wins, because there’s a huge social cost.”
Pennsylvania’s Record Gambling Revenue and Losses
The state’s gaming industry continues to set records. Player losses from casinos, iGaming, sports betting, video gaming terminals and fantasy sports totaled $6.8 billion in 2025. This marked the fifth consecutive year of record revenue.
Online casino losses reached $2.7 billion, up from $1.1 billion in 2021. Sports betting losses were $602.5 million, nearly double the $340.1 million from four years earlier. These totals exclude prediction markets.
Penn State University research published in January found that 30% of Pennsylvania adults engage in some form of online gambling annually. That represents a 10% increase from the prior year. Researchers concluded that between 2.5% and 6.4% of all Pennsylvanians may be problem gamblers.
In December 2025, young adults aged 18 to 24 accounted for the highest volume of outreach calls to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania for the first time.
The Growing Need for Updated Consumer Protections
This caucus arrives as participation and losses climb, underscoring the gap between industry growth and safeguards. The emphasis on youth protection and education points to potential legislative changes that operators will need to monitor closely in the 2027 session. As reported by Casino.org, the effort reflects bipartisan recognition of the social costs accompanying accessible gambling. The coming meetings will test whether “commonsense solutions” can balance economic benefits with public health concerns.
Reporting: Casino.org News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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