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Report: Pa. faces a choice to limit gambling addiction quickly or preserve revenue
The bipartisan report says 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians may be at risk of addiction and urges limits on ads, credit cards and VIP promotions.
On Monday, the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission released a report proposing major gambling reforms, including banning credit card use for online bets and restricting aggressive advertising campaigns.
Driven by $7.7 billion in 2025 gambling profits that rival the Las Vegas Strip, Pennsylvania's online market has surged while Pennsylvanians face addiction rates twice the national average.
Studies cited in the report reveal industry reliance on high-risk players: one from Connecticut showed 5% of gamblers generate 75% of profits, while PointsBet data showed 0.5% drive over 70% of revenue.
Pittsburgh-Area psychiatrist Kavita Fischer praised the recommendations as essential public health policy, noting that limiting VIP programs could have prevented her own six-figure gambling losses.
While the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission independently pursues faster rules, the Joint State Government Commission's broader proposals face long odds in a divided legislature where gambling interests have spent millions lobbying officials.