Pennsylvania: Future of fantasy sports sparks Capitol debate

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 3:19 PM
Photo: Shutterstock
  • Zack Hoopes, Pennlive.com

A dust-up over the limits of online betting in Pennsylvania could have real-world implications for purveyors of make-believe sports.

The lawmaker who wrote Pennsylvania’s fantasy sports betting law thinks the state’s gaming board is failing to authorize new fantasy contests that should be permitted, potentially depriving the state of much-needed revenue.

But the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) says certain operators are trying to “play the refs” to increase sports betting in a way the law doesn’t currently allow.