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