Two Pennsylvania state representatives have introduced House Bill 2879, bipartisan legislation that would ban microbets, impose per-play wager caps, set 24-hour and 30-day loss limits for online casino players, prohibit VIP programs and restrict gambling advertising hours. The bill, filed on October 21, 2026, by Democrat Tarik Khan and Republican Jamie Flick, draws on a state commission study that found 5.7% of online sports bettors account for 80% of gambling spending.
Two Pennsylvania state representatives filed legislation on October 21, 2026, that would ban microbets, impose strict wager and loss limits on online casino players, eliminate VIP programs at licensed operators and restrict gambling advertising.
House Bill 2879 was introduced by Democrat Tarik Khan and Republican Jamie Flick. The bill ranks among the broadest proposals yet aimed at online gambling in the state. The legislation must still clear committee, pass the full House and Senate and receive the governor’s signature before becoming law.
What the Bill Would Prohibit
HB 2879 defines a microbet as a proposition bet placed live during a sporting event that concerns the outcome of a single play or action. Betting sites would not be permitted to offer or accept such wagers.
The same prohibition covers proposition bets combining multiple occurrences, nonoccurrences or outcomes from a single sporting event. Credit cards and government assistance cards could not be used to fund a wager, directly or indirectly.
Accepted payment methods would be limited to ACH debits, wire transfers of readily available funds and physical checks. The bill also bars rewards or loyalty schemes — including VIP programs — that assign a host or dedicated attendant to a player or that encourage increased play, larger deposits or larger losses.
Wager and Loss Caps for Online Casino Players
For online casinos, wagers would be capped at $2 per play for players aged 21 to 25 and $5 per play for players over 25. Players in the younger bracket would be cut off once losses reached $750 in 24 hours or $2,500 in 30 days.
For players aged 25 and over, the thresholds would be $1,500 in 24 hours or $5,000 in 30 days. Once a daily limit is reached, the player would be unable to place wagers for 24 hours.
Operators could not accept more than $5,000 in deposits from a player over any 180-day period without first completing an affordability assessment. Platforms would be required to set a default session time limit of two hours in any 24-hour period.
Players could choose a shorter limit but never a longer one. Raising an existing limit would trigger a 72-hour cooling-off period. Accounts would also be signed out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Advertising Restrictions and Funding Mechanism
The advertising provisions would prohibit operators from broadcasting online gambling promotions between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. or during a live broadcast of a sporting event on radio, television or any app or website. The bill also restricts marketing aimed at minors and young adults and targets AI-driven promotions directed at vulnerable individuals.
To fund prevention, treatment and research, the bill would impose an assessment equal to 0.75% of each operator’s gross revenue from interactive gaming and interactive sports wagering. The revenue would flow into a restricted account managed by the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, which would assume a larger role in gambling oversight under a public health framework.
State Study Underpins the Legislation
The bill builds on a Joint State Government Commission study released in July 2026, which Khan requested through a 2025 resolution that passed the House 189–14. The study found that 5.7% of online sports bettors accounted for 80% of gambling spending.
At one sportsbook, 0.5% of customers generated more than 70% of revenue through its VIP program, according to the study. The figures show how heavily some operators rely on a small number of high-spending players.
