Published on: June 15, 2026, 10:06 AM.

Updated on: June 15, 2026, 10:06 AM.

• Pennsylvania legislation aims to prohibit iGaming and online sportsbooks from operating on school grounds.
• This proposal is dedicated to a young individual who tragically took his life due to a gambling addiction developed during his high school years.

Educational institutions in Pennsylvania are already designated as drug-free zones. Now, lawmakers in Harrisburg are contemplating a similar designation for online gambling.

On Monday, Pennsylvania Representative Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny/Washington) presented House Bill 2631. This bipartisan initiative, backed by one Democratic and four Republican sponsors, mandates that online gambling platforms block access to their applications and websites within school premises.

“Our educational facilities should be sanctuaries for knowledge, not venues for risking one’s future with gambling. The means to prevent this already exist. We are merely asking those who profit from gaming to ensure their services are inaccessible to students in classrooms,” Ortitay stated.

“This is a practical approach, and it’s overdue,” Ortitay elaborated.

Prohibition of Online Gambling on School Property

Ortitay’s HB2631 would obligate online gaming companies licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to leverage geofencing technologies to restrict access to their platforms anywhere on school grounds.

The bill defines a “school entity” as including “a school district, intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, cyber charter school, or regional charter school.” All relevant school properties would need to be restricted. The PGCB collaborated with Ortitay in drafting HB2631 and supports the legislation.

Online gambling is experiencing unprecedented growth throughout Pennsylvania, with iGaming losses hitting $2.77 billion in 2025, marking a record. Revenue from online sports betting exceeded $600 million, and fantasy sports entries generated over $19.1 million in fees.

Pennsylvania ranks as the third-largest gaming market in the U.S., trailing only Nevada and New Jersey.

Measure Inspired by Tragedy

Ortitay and his co-sponsors aim to avert further tragic outcomes linked to online gambling addiction.

Mikesell’s family reports that he began gambling while still in high school, often making bets on his phone during class.

“Ray Mikesell was a young man from South Fayette Township, whose fight against gambling addiction started while he was a student. This issue followed him for years and ultimately cost him his life. His father has urged us to act to ensure that no other family experiences such heartbreak. If this legislation can save even one life, it’s worth it. This bill is for Ray,” Ortitay remarked.

In Pennsylvania, online casinos and mobile sports betting are limited to individuals aged 21 and older. While fantasy sports and online lottery access is available to those 18 and above, HB2631 does not extend these geofencing requirements to those platforms.

Additionally, the bill does not address the issue of teenagers accessing prediction markets and offshore online sweepstakes casinos, which present ongoing regulatory and consumer protection challenges within the state.