Pennsylvania is tightening its language around advertising as it aims to consolidate its recent advances in legal online betting. Common taglines, such as “risk-free bet” and “no-sweat bets”, are to be banned, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has said.
The move comes as the state announced commercial gambling revenue in Pennsylvania of $616.7 million last month, the second-highest ever.
Regulations tighten as sector explodes in Pennsylvania
The iGaming industry is evolving at an incredible rate in the Keystone State. The state’s licensed operators reported nearly $6.8 billion in annual gaming revenue through 2025, the highest number in its six-year history. It also represented a 10.7% increase on 2024.
The amount of revenue is leading the PGCB to crack down on advertising techniques in iGaming. In its updated version of the regulations, it states promotional market material must not: “Consist of indecent or offensive graphics or audio, or both, obscure the game play area or obstruct a game in progress, contain content that contradicts the game rules or terms and conditions or specifically target players which have been excluded from play.”
It could also mean more directional language when reaching out to prospective customers, rather than instructional. For example, “BET HERE” rather than “BET NOW”. Other mature markets in Europe employ this approach, such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC).
The increased scrutiny on the sector will divide opinions, according to some industry observers. Some believe it will slow growth while others believe it will reinforce long-term market stability. Stricter advertising rules, expanded responsible-gaming measures, and higher compliance costs may squeeze operators, particularly smaller ones, but supporters say clearer oversight can boost consumer trust in one of the largest U.S. online gambling markets.
Updated guidelines could lead to more fines
The PGCB handed out just over $500,000 in fines and civil penalties against licensees in the most recent fiscal year. That included a single $282,205 penalty against Interactive Gaming Operator BetMGM, LLC for “152 instances in which an individual on the Board’s Interactive Self-Exclusion List was permitted to gamble on their sites”, according to a press release from the PGCB in January of last year.
That’s a fraction of the total revenue made by gambling operators in the state. In total, it represents less than one-hundredth of one percent (0.0075%). In some European markets, regulators have been much more stringent in issuing fines to operators.
In Britain, theUKGC annual report for 2024–25 (which runs from April 1 2024 to March 31 2025) states that the Commission took enforcement action against 24 operators, leading to £4.2 million in fines or regulatory settlements in that reporting period.
That equates to 0.025%.of total gambling revenue, more than three times the amount that the PGCB handed out in fines. Analysts expect the PGCB to close the gap in penalties and fines with a more forensic application of its own guidelines.
Pennsylvania is now the second-biggest U.S. state for gambling
Due to its extensive network of gambling operations, Pennsylvania has solidified its standing as the second‑largest gaming state by annual revenue in the country.
This historic revenue figure was driven by strong performances across multiple verticals, including slot machines, table games, sports wagering, and especially online gaming, which grew more than 27% year‑over‑year.
The PGCB also noted that the state’s gaming tax receipts approached $3 billion, a new high, underscoring the economic importance of the industry to the commonwealth’s finances.
Only operators in Nevada report higher annual gaming revenue, placing Pennsylvania firmly behind the Silver State but ahead of all other U.S. jurisdictions in the total economic output from legalized gambling.
Gambling participation up in Pennsylvania
While the revenue continues to increase year-on-year in the state, so do the participation figures. According to a recent Online Gambling Report released by Pennsylvania State University, as many as 30% of Pennsylvania adults participated in some form of online gambling over the past year, up from 20% reported in 2024, according to researchers.
The report also notes the uptick in calls to the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline, with over 50% of topics related to problematic online gambling.Lead researcher and associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Kentucky, Glenn Sterner, believes the study will provide an important window into the habits of bettors and whether they might slip into harmful habitual tendencies.
He said: “This year we expanded our survey to include the prevalence of compulsive and problem gambling among Pennsylvania residents. This expansion of the assessment will help us to monitor this important public health indicator so that we can work with partners at the state to local level on addressing issues associated with the growing popularity of online gambling.”
As Pennsylvania’s online gambling sector continues to expand, the PGCB’s tighter advertising rules suggest greater oversight and consumer protection over the coming months. While operators navigate new compliance requirements, the state’s gaming market shows no signs of slowing. For operators, this means balancing growth with responsible practices to maintain public trust.
