Pennsylvania reps introduce bill requiring online casinos to geoblock schools

A group of Pennsylvania House reps has introduced legislation requiring online casinos and sportsbooks to geoblock school properties. The bill was authored by Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny/Washington) and co-sponsored by Reps. Anderson, Flick, Kutz, Kuzma, Merski and Verobish.  

House Bill 2631 doesn't require the state's online gambling sites to invent technology to block school zones. Instead, Ortitay notes that operators can already keep minors off their sites.

"Our schools should be a place for learning, not a place to lose your future one bet at a time," Ortitay said via a press release. "The technology to stop this already exists. We are simply asking the operators who profit from gaming to make sure their products cannot be used by a child sitting in a classroom. This is common sense, and it is long overdue."

Minors are already banned from regulated online casino, sports betting and poker in PA, as the minimum age to play is 21. Geofencing schools could also ensure no adults are gambling on school grounds or stop any minors from using another adult's account, like a parent's. 

This legislation would require PA online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites to "block access to their platforms from inside Pennsylvania schools."

The state's current laws allow eligible users to access casino games online from anywhere within Pennsylvania's borders.

As the release states, "In some cases, minors are using a parent's account and credentials to place bets and play casino games while sitting in class." HB 2631 would require operators to "draw a digital boundary around school property."

Ortitay was inspired to author HB 2631 by Ray Mikesell, a late gambler from South Fayette Township whose gambling addiction started while in school. In November 2024, Mikesell took his own life after failing to overcome this addiction.

"Ray's story is one too many families across Pennsylvania know all too well," Ortitay explained. "His father turned his grief into a mission to protect other kids. The least we can do is honor that by getting this done."

Raymond Mikesell Jr., Ray's father, has been instrumental in motivating Ortitay to bring this bill to the table. "If this legislation helps even one person, it is worth it," Mikesell said. "This is for my son."

HB 2631 is the latest attempt to reduce gambling problems within the state, specifically targeting youth gamblers in this case.

Earlier this month, State Reps. Tarik Khan (D-Phila) and Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union) introduced a package of bills to add "reasonable limits" to deposits at PA gambling sites.

The series of bills, dubbed Protecting Public Health in Online Gambling, also seeks to ban credit card deposits and prevent operators from sending promotions to self-excluded gamblers.

There's some overlap with Ortitay's legislation since Khan and Flick hope to reduce minors' exposure to real money online slots, table games, sports betting, and poker.

"Too many young people are being exposed to online gambling through constant advertising and unprecedented access from their phones and devices," explained Flick. "These bills are about putting reasonable safeguards in place, promoting responsible gaming and helping ensure that young people and families are protected from gambling-related harm."

Bettors must be 21 years or older and otherwise eligible to register and place wagers at online casinos. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please seek assistance from trained professionals such as the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-MY-RESET. 

Jeremy Olson