Pennsylvania Bill Proposes Microbetting, VIP Program Eliminations

• An introduced bipartisan Pennsylvania bill will alter the sports betting and iGaming landscape
• HB 2879 proposes the elimination of VIP programs, same game parlays, microbets, and impose funding restrictions
• Wagering deposit prohibitions would be implemented for customers who lose particular amounts of money over extended periods of time

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A bipartisan Pennsylvania sports betting and iGaming bill aims to alter the state’s gaming landscape if approved, proposing the elimination of VIP programs, same game parlays involving player props, and microbets, plus implement new deposit thresholds for customers.

Rep. Tarik Khan (R-194) and Sen. Jamie Flick (R-83) introduced HB 2879, bipartisan legislation designed to “protect Pennsylvanians from online gambling addiction and predatory industry practices.”

“Kids today are growing up surrounded by sports betting advertisements and gambling apps,” Flick said in a release. “We need to make sure the next generation isn’t being drawn into gambling addiction before they fully understand the risks. This bipartisan bill puts meaningful protections in place, especially for young adults who are particularly vulnerable.”

Banning Problematic Betting Markets

The bill currently sits in the House gaming oversight committee.

Khan and Flick point to several trouble gambling findings in the Keystone state. A July 2026 study on Pennsylvania gambling addiction found that just 5.7% of online sports bettors accounts for 80% of gambling expenditures in the state.

At one sportsbook, 0.5% of customers generated more than 70% of revenue through its VIP program.

“Problem gambling ruins lives and destroys families,” Khan said. “That’s why I pushed for this statewide study in the first place. What we found was deeply troubling: Gambling companies using predatory practices to keep people betting, even as they’re losing everything. This study became the foundation of our bipartisan legislation to hold these Wall Street bookies accountable and protect Pennsylvania families.”

The legislators’ proposed bill will alter Pennsylvania’s betting and gaming market in an attempt to reduce problematic gambling for users. Microbets will be prohibited, as well as same game parlays involving player props, and deposit limits will be instilled on every Pennsylvania user.

If approved, users will be limited to the following deposit practices:

• No more than two deposits during a 24-hour period
• Affordability checks for users attempting to deposit more than $5,000 during a 180-day period

Additionally, users between the ages of 21 and 25 will not be able to place an iGaming wager of more than $2 per play. Users older than 25 will not be able to place an iGaming wager of more than $5 per pay.

Any customers between the age of 21 and 25 will be prohibited from gaming if they have aggregate losses totaling $750 or more in a 24-hour period or $2,500 in a 30-day period. If total losses exceed the 24-hour limit, a user will be prohibited from betting for 24 hours. If losses exceed the 30-day limit, the customer will be prohibited from betting for 30 days.

Every customer will also be required to establish daily and monthly monetary loss limits with gaming platforms to participate in Pennsylvania gambling, and be prohibited from gaming once those loss limits have been reached.

Credit card deposits will also be prohibited for all customers in the state.

“People should be free to enjoy an occasional bet,” Khan said. “But the gambling industry shouldn’t be allowed to exploit addiction for profit. We studied the problem, we followed the evidence, and now we’re taking bipartisan action to protect Pennsylvanians.”

Extensive Changes to Marketing

The bill imposes a number of new marketing prohibitions for Pennsylvania licensed sports betting and iGaming operators. Operators will no longer be able to offer VIP programs to customers or market offers through push notifications to customer phones.

Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning will be prohibited to target advertisement, bonuses, promotions, or incentives to users in the Keystone State. Advertisements targeting minors and young adults will also be prohibited.

Licensed operators will also be prohibited from advertising or promoting online gambling from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., or during a live broadcast on radio, television, or an application on an electronic device or over the internet, of a sporting event.