PA Problem Gambling Caucus: ‘Drug of Choice Is No Longer Marijuana or Meth. It Sits in Your Pocket’
The newly established Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Caucus has declared war on gambling addiction, comparing the severity of the crisis to ongoing challenges in combating illicit drug use. In a first-of-its-kind legislative effort, a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers has announced the form…
The newly established Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Caucus has declared war on gambling addiction, comparing the severity of the crisis to ongoing challenges in combating illicit drug use. Pennsylvania Sen. Joe Picozzi announces the Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Caucus at the Capitol Media Center in Harrisburg on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. The Problem Gambling Caucus will begin meeting in January 2027 to push responsible gambling initiatives in the General Assembly. (Image: Sen. Joe Picozzi/X) In a first-of-its-kind legislative effort, a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers has announced the formation of the Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Caucus. The caucus will begin meeting in January when the General Assembly convenes for its 2027 legislative session. State Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-Philadelphia) and Rep. Ben Sanchez (D-Montgomery) are heading up the bipartisan caucus. Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming) is another founding member. The drug of choice is no longer marijuana or meth. The drug of choice now sits in your pocket,” Flick said of online gambling. During the Problem Gambling Caucus’ formation announcement on Wednesday (Oct. 21), the group said its first task will be reducing underage people’s exposure to gambling and developing educational campaigns highlighting the various risks associated with casinos, sports betting, and online gambling. Record Revenue, Record Losses Pennsylvania’s gaming industry is among the richest in the nation in terms of revenue. 2025 marked the state’s fifth consecutive year of record revenue, with player losses from casinos, iGaming, sports betting, video gaming terminals, and fantasy sports totaling $6.8 billion. But while in-person revenue has been stagnant in recent years, online gambling and mobile sports betting have grown exponentially. Online casino gamblers lost $2.7 billion last year, up from just $1.1 billion in 2021. Sports bettors lost $602.5 million, up from $340.1 million in 2021. The record losses do not include prediction markets, which allow anyone aged 18 and up to risk money on everything from the weather to sports. “With sports betting and online casinos just a tap away, we need to make sure our laws and consumer protections keep pace. That means taking a serious look at gambling addiction, protecting young adults and other vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and promoting responsible gaming,” said Picozzi. Picozzi added that the Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Caucus is about finding “commonsense solutions” and working across party lines to protect communities. “When people lose their life savings, nobody wins, because there’s a huge social cost,” Picozzi said. Pennsylvania Gambling Participation Penn State University research published in January revealed that an all-time high of 30% of Pennsylvania adults engage in some form of online gambling annually, representing a 10% increase from the prior year. Penn State researchers concluded that between 2.5% and 6.4% of all Pennsylvanians may be problem gamblers. In December 2025, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania reported that, for the first time ever, young adults aged 18 to 24 accounted for the highest volume of outreach calls. The post PA Problem Gambling Caucus: ‘Drug of Choice Is No Longer Marijuana or Meth. It Sits in Your Pocket’ appeared first on Casino.org.