Pennsylvania Proposal Would Geofence Gambling Apps Around Schools
HARRISBURG, Pa. – A Pennsylvania lawmaker plans to introduce legislation requiring online gambling and sports betting operators to block access to their platforms on school property.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The proposal could expand player protection measures in one of the largest regulated gambling markets in the United States by creating geofenced exclusion zones around schools.
State Representative Jason Ortitay announced the planned legislation in a co-sponsorship memo circulated to fellow lawmakers. The measure would require licensed online casino and sportsbook operators to use geospatial technology to prevent registered users from accessing gambling platforms while physically located on school grounds.
According to Ortitay, Pennsylvania's regulated online gambling framework was designed for adults and was never intended to be accessible in classrooms, school buildings or playgrounds.
“This is not a hypothetical concern,” Ortitay wrote. “Ray Mikesell was a young man from South Fayette Township whose struggle with gambling addiction began while he was a student. That addiction followed him for years and ultimately cost him his life.”
Proposal Would Require School Geofencing
The legislation would place responsibility on licensed operators to enforce location-based restrictions around schools.
Under the proposal, gambling platforms would need to prevent access from anywhere within the boundaries of school property, including classrooms, administrative buildings, sports facilities and outdoor grounds.
Ortitay said the measure aims to address situations where students gain access to gambling products through smartphones, including cases where minors use a parent's betting account credentials.
“As he told me, if this legislation helps even one person, it is worth it. I agree. This bill is for Ray,” Ortitay wrote.
Pennsylvania operators already use geolocation technology to ensure customers are physically located within state borders before placing bets. The proposed legislation would add another layer of restrictions tied specifically to school locations.
More Responsible Gambling
Growing Focus on Youth Gambling Risks
The proposal arrives as concerns grow about young people's exposure to gambling products and sports betting content.
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania regulators raised youth gambling concerns over prediction markets, warning that younger users may be increasingly exposed to gambling-like products through digital platforms.
Ortitay's proposal is one of several gambling-related consumer protection measures currently being discussed in the state legislature. Other recently proposed bills would impose additional marketing restrictions, strengthen responsible gambling requirements and prohibit the use of credit cards for online gambling transactions.
Representative Jamie Flick, who is backing separate responsible gambling proposals, recently said: “Too many young people are being exposed to online gambling through constant advertising and unprecedented access from their phones and devices.”
What Happens Next
The legislation has not yet been formally introduced, but Ortitay said he intends to file the bill in the near future and seek bipartisan support.
If introduced, the proposal would need to move through the committee process before advancing to votes in the Pennsylvania House and Senate.
For operators, the measure could require additional compliance systems beyond existing state geolocation requirements. For policymakers, it represents another effort to limit youth exposure to gambling products as online betting continues to expand across the United States.
RELATED TOPICS: Responsible Gambling
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