A lawmaker in Pennsylvania, Rep. Joe Webster, has put forward a new proposal seeking to implement a measure that was introduced in Australia in 2022 and, Webster argues, has helped reduce harm experienced by gamblers.
Learning from this best experience, Webster argues that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) and lawmakers could do more to help protect consumers.
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Call for Monthly Statements to Reduce Gambling Harm
According to a study by the University of Sydney, the introduction of statements has helped the people worst affected by gambling-related problems, motivating them to make positive changes in their behavior.
“It is for these reasons that I am introducing legislation to require licensed online gaming companies that operate in Pennsylvania to provide monthly activity statements to users,” he explained.
The lawmaker is worried because the gambling take of the state has increased, as has the revenue generated by licensed gambling companies in the Keystone State.
This has coincided with another noticeable trend – the number of self-reported problem gamblers, suggesting that the problem is indeed worsening.
Webster has pointed out that there were more calls and texts to the Pennsylvania problem gambling hotline, with an increase in reach-outs jumping by 300% from 2021 to 2024. 37% of these reach-outs have been tied to online wagering.
“Problem gambling negatively affects families across the Commonwealth, and this consumer protection measure will provide important transparency to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to know what they are wagering,” Webster added.
