HR 60 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on sports betting and related interactive gambling in this Commonwealth, including recommended methods to further regulate the industry in order to reduce problem gambling behaviors, gambling debt and the exposure of children to sports betting and related interactive gambling advertisements.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

505 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION Session of No.

111560 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFKHAN, PENNSYLVANIAHARKINS, HOUSEMcANDREW, WEBSTER, WAXMAN, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, NEILSON, DONAHUE, GREEN AND MALAGARI, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 A RESOLUTION SessionDirecting the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on sports betting in this Commonwealth, including recommended methods to further regulate the industry in order to reduce problem gambling behaviors, gambling debt and the exposure of No.children to sports betting advertisements.

60 2025 INTRODUCED BY KHAN, HARKINS, McANDREW, WEBSTER, WAXMAN, GIRAL, DAVIDSON AND CURRY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025E, GREEN, MALAGARI, AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 24, 2025 A RESOLUTION Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on sports betting AND RELATED INTERACTIVE GAMBLING in <-- this Commonwealth, including recommended methods to further regulate the industry in order to reduce problem gambling behaviors, gambling debt and the exposure of children to sports betting AND RELATED INTERACTIVE GAMBLING <-- advertisements.

and WHEREAS, AIn MAJOR2024, CHANGEit TOwas PENNSYLVANIA'Sprojected GAMBLINGthat INDUSTRY$35 <--billion HASwould BEENbe THEwagered INCREASEDon AVAILABILITYthe OFNational INTERACTIVEFootball GAMING,League, INCLUDINGwith GREATERbets ACCESSbeing TOavailable ONLINEon ANDall MOBILEsports BETTINGand PLATFORMS,other WHICHcompetitions; HAS BECOME THE FASTEST METHOD OF GAMBLING FOR BOTH TRADITIONAL CASINO-STYLE GAMBLING AND SPORTS BETTING;

AND WHEREAS, In 2024, it was projected that $35 billion would be wagered on the National Football League, with bets being available on all sports and other competitions;

and WHEREAS, ACCORDINGProblem TOgambling THEmay UNIVERSITYlead OFto CALIFORNIArepeated, LOSuncontrolled <--gambling ANGELESthat GAMBLINGcan STUDIESresult PROGRAM,in YOUNGERnegative PEOPLEconsequences AREto ATan HIGHERindividual, RISKleading OFto DEVELOPINGthe GAMBLINGloss DISORDERSof THANrelationships, ADULTSjobs ANDand THEREother ISopportunities; AN INCREASE IN ACCESS TO CASINO-STYLE GAMBLING AND SPORTS BETTING, WITH A MULTITUDE OF ONLINE PLATFORMS OFFERING ONLINE AND MOBILE BETTING;

AND WHEREAS, DUE TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY AND COMFORT WITH WHICH BETS CAN BE PLACED, CONCERNS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED THAT INTERACTIVE GAMING AND SPORTS BETTING INCREASES RATES OF PROBLEM AND ADDICTIVE GAMBLING;

AND WHEREAS, Problem gambling may lead to repeated, uncontrolled gambling that can result in negative consequences to an individual, leading to the loss of relationships, jobs and other opportunities;

and 20250HR0060PN1115 - 2 - WHEREAS, Sports betting is often based on online platforms making it more accessible than physical gambling locations where traveling or cash payments may be necessary;

and 20250HR0060PN0505 - 2 - WHEREAS, Sports betting is a novel, popular industry with many benefits but also many potential concerns that have led to some experts declaring it a potential public health crisis;

and WHEREAS, ACCORDINGThis TOCommonwealth PUBLIChas DATAbeen PROVIDEDa BYleading THEstate <--in PENNSYLVANIAaddressing GAMINGproblem CONTROLgambling, BOARD,and ASits OFmethods JANUARYmay 2025,serve 95%as OFa ALLmodel SPORTSfor BETTINGother WAGERSstates ANDto 60%follow; OF ALL SLOT MACHINE WAGERS IN PENNSYLVANIA WERE MADE ONLINE;

ANDtherefore WHEREAS,be Thisit CommonwealthRESOLVED, hasThat beenthe House of Representatives direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a leadingstudy stateon insports addressingbetting problemin gambling,this andCommonwealth, itsincluding recommended methods mayto servefurther asregulate athe modelindustry forin otherorder statesto reduce problem gambling behaviors, gambling debt and the exposure of children to follow;sports betting advertisements;

thereforeand be it further RESOLVED, That the Housestudy ofinclude Representativesinformation directregarding themarketing Jointstrategies Stateby Government Commission to conduct a study on sports betting ANDlicensees, RELATEDsuch INTERACTIVEas GAMBLINGpromotions, inin-game thisadvertising, Commonwealth,advertising includingduring <--sports 20250HR0060PN1115broadcasts -and 3webcasts, -as recommendedwell methodsas to further regulate the industryusage inof ordercelebrities to reduce problem gambling behaviors, gambling debt and theanimated exposurespokespersons; of children to sports betting AND RELATED INTERACTIVE <-- GAMBLING advertisements;

and be it further RESOLVED, That the study include information regarding marketing strategies by sports betting AND RELATED INTERACTIVE <-- GAMBLING licensees, such as promotions, in-game advertising, advertising during sports broadcasts and webcasts, as well as the usage of celebrities and animated spokespersons;

and be it further RESOLVED, THATThat ASthe PARTJoint OFState THEGovernment STUDY,Commission THEissue JOINTa STATEreport <--of GOVERNMENTits COMMISSIONfindings COLLECTand INFORMATIONrecommendations REGARDINGand THEsubmit IMPACTthe OFreport SPORTSto BETTINGthe UPONGeneral THEAssembly MENTALno HEALTHlater ANDthan WELL-BEING12 OFmonths COLLEGEafter STUDENTthe ATHLETESadoption INof THISthis COMMONWEALTH,resolution. INCLUDING INSTANCES OF HARASSMENT, COERCION OR RETALIATION BY BETTORS;

AND20250HR0060PN0505 BE- IT3 FURTHER- RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a report of its findings and recommendations and submit the report to the General Assembly no later than 12 months after the adoption of this resolution.

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