TLDR
- Pennsylvania Rep. Jason Ortitay introduced House Bill 2631 on June 12, 2026
- The bill would require online casinos and sportsbooks to use geofencing to block access from K-12 schools
- Operators already use geolocation technology to keep gambling within state lines
- The bill was introduced in honor of Ray Mikesell, a man who developed a gambling addiction as a student and later died by suicide
- Responsible gambling advocates call it a “great starting point” but say more education is needed
Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking steps to stop students from gambling online during the school day. A new bill introduced on June 12 would require licensed gambling platforms to block access from within K-12 school grounds.
Rep. Jason Ortitay, a Republican from Allegheny and Washington counties, introduced House Bill 2631. It has six co-sponsors: Reps. Anderson, Flick, Merski, Kuzma, Verobish, and Kutz.
“Our schools should be a place for learning, not a place to lose your future one bet at a time,” Ortitay said in a statement.
How the Technology Would Work
The bill would require licensed online casinos and sportsbooks to use geofencing technology. This creates a digital boundary around school property. Inside that boundary, gambling platforms simply would not work — for any account.
Pennsylvania already allows online gambling for adults under a licensed and regulated system. Operators currently use geolocation tools to make sure gambling stays within state lines. Ortitay argues the same technology can be applied to schools.
“It’ll take some work and time to implement, but it can be done,” he told Gambling Insider.
Students have been accessing gambling apps on smartphones during school hours. In some cases, minors have been using their parents’ accounts to place bets and play casino games while in class.
The bill applies to K-12 schools only. Colleges and post-secondary institutions are not included.
The Story Behind the Bill
Ortitay introduced the legislation in honor of Ray Mikesell, a man from South Fayette Township whose gambling addiction started when he was a student. He struggled with the addiction for years before dying by suicide.
His father, Raymond Mikesell Jr., approached Ortitay and asked for help preventing similar tragedies.
“If this legislation helps even one person, it is worth it,” Mikesell Sr. said. “This is for my son.”
Ortitay said he developed the bill in coordination with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which supports the approach. The PGCB did not respond to a request for comment.
Ortitay said he believes the bill has the support needed to pass. “At the end of the day, who’s going to come out and say they want minors gambling illegally at schools?” he said.
The bill now sits with the House Gaming Oversight Committee.
Advocates Want More Than a Block
Josh Ercole, executive director of Pennsylvania’s Council on Compulsive Gambling, called the bill “a great starting point.” But he said blocking access alone is not enough.
Ercole said the bill shows awareness that kids are gambling, which makes formal prevention education a logical next step. “If we’re not addressing it with any formal education or explanatory prevention messaging, then we’re missing a potential opportunity,” he said.
Ortitay has previously worked on consumer gambling protections, including helping consolidate problem gambling resources into the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline.
