Pennsylvania HB 2497: An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for event outcome prediction wagering; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the Department of Revenue; imposing an event outcome prediction wagering tax and local share assessment; establishing restricted receipt accounts within the State Gaming Fund and the Commonwealth Financing Authority; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3382
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2497
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY BURGOS, KHAN, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, McNEILL,
VENKAT, WAXMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, BOROWSKI, CIRESI, PARKER AND
CURRY, MAY 7, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, MAY 8, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, providing for event outcome prediction wagering;
imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and
the Department of Revenue; imposing an event outcome
prediction wagering tax and local share assessment;
establishing restricted receipt accounts within the State
Gaming Fund and the Commonwealth Financing Authority; and
imposing penalties.
The General Assembly finds and declares that a regulatory
framework at the State level for event outcome prediction
wagering is necessary, in light of the adoption of a
noninterference approach by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, to regulate prediction markets.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 13G
EVENT OUTCOME PREDICTION WAGERING
Subchapter
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A. Preliminary Provisions
B. Licensing
C. Operations
D. Enforcement and Penalties
E. Miscellaneous Provisions
SUBCHAPTER A
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Sec.
13G01. Scope of chapter.
13G02. Definitions.
§ 13G01. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to the implementation, administration
and enforcement of event outcome prediction wagering.
§ 13G02. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Applicant." An event outcome prediction wagering platform
that applies for an event outcome prediction wagering license.
"Application." An application for an event outcome
prediction wagering license under section 13G14 (relating to
application).
"Digital service." An Internet website or mobile
application.
"Event contract." A wagering agreement between an event
outcome prediction wagering platform and an individual that:
(1) Serves as the basis for event outcome prediction
wagering.
(2) Provides a payout based on the occurrence or
nonoccurrence of a specified future event or circumstance,
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which may involve an election, the weather, awards, sports
competitions or any other economic, political or social event
or circumstance.
"Event outcome prediction wagering" or "wagering." As
follows:
(1) The business of accepting wagers, setting odds to
ensure a profit margin, making payouts and managing related
transactions through an event contract by any system or
method of wagering, including a digital service.
(2) The term includes exchange wagering, parlays, over-
under, moneyline, pools and straight bets regarding a
prediction market.
(3) The term does not include:
(i) Pari-mutuel betting on the outcome of
thoroughbred or harness horse racing as authorized under
3 Pa.C.S. Ch. 93 (relating to race horse industry
reform).
(ii) Lottery games of the Pennsylvania State Lottery
as authorized under the act of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351,
No.91), known as the State Lottery Law.
(iii) Bingo as authorized under the act of July 10,
1981 (P.L.214, No.67), known as the Bingo Law.
(iv) Small games of chance as authorized under the
act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156), known as the
Local Option Small Games of Chance Act.
(v) Slot machine gaming and progressive slot machine
gaming as defined and authorized under this part.
(vi) Keno.
(vii) Fantasy contests.
(viii) iLottery under Chapter 5 (relating to
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lottery).
"Event outcome prediction wagering license" or "license." A
license to conduct event outcome prediction wagering that:
(1) is issued by the board under this chapter; and
(2) authorizes an event outcome prediction wagering
platform to conduct event outcome prediction wagering in
accordance with this chapter.
"Event outcome prediction wagering licensee" or "licensee."
An event outcome prediction wagering platform to whom the board
has issued an event outcome prediction wagering license.
"Event outcome prediction wagering platform" or "platform."
A digital service or clearinghouse designed to facilitate event
outcome prediction wagering.
"Gross event outcome prediction wagering revenue." As
follows:
(1) The total money received by an event outcome
prediction wagering licensee from event outcome prediction
wagering minus the total of:
(i) Money paid to participants as a result of the
wagering.
(ii) Money paid to purchase annuities to fund prizes
payable to participants over a period of time as a result
of the wagering.
(2) The term does not include mo