Pennsylvania Report Highlights Impact of Sports Betting Ads

Some big changes could be coming for sports bettors in the Keystone State.

The Joint State Government Commission has released a report on the impact of problem gambling from the state’s legal gambling markets. In it, the group proposed making several significant changes, including a ban on live betting. 

While the report covered all aspects of gambling in the state, a large focus was placed on the impact advertising is having on problem gambling. Below, we’ll share some of the most significant findings the group reported.

Prediction Market Ads Are a Problem

One of the most intriguing takeaways from the report involves sports prediction markets.

In the section on sports betting advertising, the JSGC highlighted a spike in sports betting ads that failed to comply with state gambling laws. Most of those were attributed to prediction operators, which do not include the same responsible gambling language as regulated sportsbooks.

Through the first two months of 2026 . . . [n]early half (43%) of digital sports betting ads seen by U.S. consumers did not comply with state gaming regulations requiring responsible gaming messaging since they came from prediction market operators.

Prediction operators aren’t currently required to comply with state gambling laws, despite offering a clear form of sports betting. 

Social Media Not Regulating Ads

The JSGC’s report spent a lot of time reviewing the impact of legal gambling on Pennsylvania’s youth. While the state has strict laws that prohibit gambling operators from targeting underage residents, the industry has found a way to work around that. They’re hiring influencers to promote their brands on social media platforms, where they don’t need to abide by the same advertising regulations.

According to the report, social media platforms are failing to shield underage bettors from those celebrity gambling promos. 

[TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube] failed to limit gambling advertisements from appearing in search results. . . . Nearly all advertisements came from influencers, celebrities, athletes, and brand partners promoting these services, rather than direct company advertising. This promotion strategy reflects a concern parents have raised about gambling and prediction market advertising, particularly when it blurs the line between promotion and entertainment.

All Sportsbooks Ads Should be Banned

In its recommendations, the JSGC included a section on a full ban on gambling advertisements. It saw a ban as one of the most effective tools to fight the growth of problem and underage gambling. However, the group stops short of recommending the drastic change.

In the report, the group shares that a full ban would likely be unconstitutional. It would result in lawsuits from the industry and ultimately lead to no real change. As a result, the JSGC proposed some smaller, more manageable alternative actions. 

The fact that the group even mentioned a full advertising ban shows how significant members view the issue.