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.NOS.

505505, 1115 PRINTER'S NO.

11151719 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION Session of No.

60 2025 INTRODUCED BY KHAN, HARKINS, McANDREW, WEBSTER, WAXMAN, GIRAL, DAVIDSONHILL-EVANS, ANDSANCHEZ, CURRY,NEILSON, FEBRUARYDONAHUE, 5, 2025E, GREEN, MALAGARI, ASDAVIDSON, REPORTEDCURRY, FROMBOROWSKI 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 RELATEDT. 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.

DAVIS, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 AS AMENDED, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAY 14, 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 sports betting and related interactive gamblingildren to advertisements.

and WHEREAS, A MAJORmajor CHANGEchange TOto PENNSYLVANIA'SPennsylvania's GAMBLINGgambling INDUSTRYindustry <--has HASbeen BEENthe THEincreased INCREASEDavailability AVAILABILITYof OFinteractive INTERACTIVEgaming, GAMING,including INCLUDINGgreater GREATERaccess ACCESSto TOonline ONLINEand ANDmobile MOBILEbetting BETTINGplatforms, PLATFORMS,which WHICHhas HASbecome BECOMEthe THEfastest FASTESTmethod METHODof OFgambling GAMBLINGfor FORboth BOTHtraditional TRADITIONALcasino-style CASINO-STYLEgambling GAMBLINGand ANDsports SPORTSbetting; BETTING;

ANDand 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, ACCORDINGAccording TOto THEthe UNIVERSITYUniversity OFof CALIFORNIACalifornia LOSLos <--Angeles ANGELESGambling GAMBLINGStudies STUDIESProgram, PROGRAM,younger YOUNGERpeople PEOPLEare AREat AThigher HIGHERrisk RISKof OFdeveloping DEVELOPINGgambling GAMBLINGdisorders DISORDERSthan THANadults ADULTSand ANDthere THEREis ISan ANincrease INCREASEin INaccess ACCESSto TOcasino-style CASINO-STYLEgambling GAMBLINGand ANDsports SPORTSbetting, BETTING,with WITHa Amultitude MULTITUDEof OFonline ONLINEplatforms PLATFORMSoffering OFFERINGonline ONLINEand ANDmobile MOBILEbetting; BETTING;

ANDand WHEREAS, DUEDue TOto THEthe HIGHhigh LEVELlevel OFof ACCESSIBILITYaccessibility ANDand COMFORTcomfort WITHwith WHICHwhich BETSbets CANcan BEbe PLACED,placed, CONCERNSconcerns HAVEhave BEENbeen EXPRESSEDexpressed THATthat INTERACTIVEinteractive GAMINGgaming ANDand SPORTSsports BETTINGbetting INCREASESincreases RATESrates OFof PROBLEMproblem ANDand ADDICTIVEaddictive GAMBLING;gambling;

ANDand 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 20250HR0060PN1719 - 2 - making it more accessible than physical gambling locations where traveling or cash payments may be necessary;

and WHEREAS, SeveralTHE statesPENNSYLVANIA haveRACE enactedHORSE lawsDEVELOPMENT andAND regulationsGAMING prohibiting<-- theACT advertisementCONTAINS ofNUMEROUS sportsPROVISIONS bettingEVIDENCING targetedTHE toINTENT minors,OF withTHE FederalGENERAL legislationASSEMBLY beingTO introducedPROTECT thatAGAINST wouldGAMBLING prohibitPROBLEMS allAND sportsTO bettingPROHIBIT advertisementsLICENSED onENTITIES television,FROM radioFURTHER andINJURING theRESIDENTS Internet;OF THIS COMMONWEALTH SUFFERING FROM GAMBLING ADDICTION THROUGH THE LICENSED GAMING OPERATIONS;

AND WHEREAS, Several states have enacted laws and regulations prohibiting the advertisement of sports betting targeted to minors, with Federal legislation being introduced that would prohibit all sports betting advertisements on television, radio and the Internet;

and WHEREAS, ACCORDINGAccording TOto PUBLICpublic DATAdata PROVIDEDprovided BYby THEthe <--Pennsylvania PENNSYLVANIAGaming GAMINGControl CONTROLBoard, BOARD,as ASof OFJanuary JANUARY 2025, 95% OFof ALLall SPORTSsports BETTINGbetting WAGERSwagers ANDand 60% OFof ALLall SLOTslot MACHINEmachine WAGERSwagers INin PENNSYLVANIAPennsylvania WEREwere MADEmade ONLINE;online;

ANDand WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has been a leading state in 20250HR0060PN1719 - 3 - addressing problem gambling, and its methods may serve as a model for other states to follow;

therefore be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on sports betting ANDand RELATEDrelated INTERACTIVEinteractive GAMBLINGgambling in this Commonwealth, including <-- 20250HR0060PN1115 - 3 - recommended methods to further regulate the industry in order to reduce problem gambling behaviors, gambling debt and the exposure of children to sports betting ANDand RELATEDrelated INTERACTIVEinteractive <--gambling GAMBLING advertisements;

and be it further RESOLVED, That the study include information regarding <-- marketing strategies by sports betting ANDand RELATEDrelated INTERACTIVEinteractive <--gambling 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, That,THAT inTHE developingSTUDY theirINCLUDE: recommendations to address these concerns, the Joint State Government Commission consult with qualified legal counsel to ensure that the proposed recommendations would not conflict with the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of Pennsylvania, including the First Amendment right to free speech;

and<-- be(1) itINFORMATION furtherREGARDING RESOLVED,MARKETING THATSTRATEGIES ASBY PARTSPORTS OFBETTING THEAND STUDY,RELATED THEINTERACTIVE JOINTGAMBLING STATELICENSEES, <--SUCH GOVERNMENTAS COMMISSIONPROMOTIONS, COLLECTIN-GAME INFORMATIONADVERTISING, REGARDINGADVERTISING THEDURING IMPACT OF SPORTS BETTINGBROADCASTS UPON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGWEBCASTS, OFAS COLLEGEWELL STUDENTAS ATHLETESTHE INUSAGE THIS COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING INSTANCES OF HARASSMENT,CELEBRITIES COERCIONAND ORANIMATED RETALIATIONSPOKESPERSONS; BY BETTORS;

AND(2) BEINFORMATION ITON FURTHERLOAN, RESOLVED,BONUS, ThatINCENTIVE theAND JointVIP StatePROGRAMS GovernmentISSUED CommissionBY issueTHE aSPORTS reportBETTING ofAND itsRELATED findingsINTERACTIVE andGAMBLING recommendationsINDUSTRY andIN submitTHIS theCOMMONWEALTH; report to the General Assembly no later than 12 months after the adoption of this resolution.

20250HR0060PN1115(3) -RECOMMENDATIONS 4ON -METHODS TO FURTHER REGULATE THE SPORTS BETTING AND RELATED INTERACTIVE GAMBLING INDUSTRY, IF NEEDED, IN ORDER TO REDUCE PROBLEM GAMBLING BEHAVIORS AND GAMBLING DEBT;

AND (4) INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT PROTOCOL MAY BE IMPLEMENTED FOR EMPLOYEE TRAINING IN THE SPORTS BETTING AND 20250HR0060PN1719 - 4 - RELATED INTERACTIVE GAMBLING INDUSTRY WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPACT OF SUSTAINING MAJOR LOSSES AND SUFFERING FROM GAMBLING ADDICTION;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, in developing their recommendations to address these concerns, the Joint State Government Commission consult with qualified legal counsel to ensure that the proposed recommendations would not conflict with the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of Pennsylvania, including the First Amendment right to free speech;

and be it further RESOLVED, That as part of the study, the Joint State Government Commission collect information regarding the impact of sports betting upon the mental health and well-being of college student athletes in this Commonwealth, including instances of harassment, coercion or retaliation by bettors;

and be it 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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