Pennsylvania funds digital gambling harm prevention with Almond and FanDuel

By AI, Created 4:25 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Pennsylvania approved funding to deploy Almond Digital and make it available to FanDuel users in the state through FanDuel’s responsible gaming program. The move aims to provide anonymous, multilingual support at the point of play and connect higher-need users to licensed in-state care.

Why it matters: - Pennsylvania is putting gambling-harm prevention directly inside the online betting environment, aiming to reach users earlier before financial, relational or mental health harms escalate. - The program expands no-cost, anonymous and multilingual support for gamblers and their loved ones across the Commonwealth. - The rollout could help connect more people to Pennsylvania’s existing treatment network by moving some support upstream, before formal care is needed.

What happened: - The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved funding to deploy Almond Digital, a platform focused on preventing and reducing gambling-related harm. - FanDuel will be the first operator organization to make Almond available directly to Pennsylvania users through its responsible gaming program. - The launch will begin over the next several weeks. - The rollout will happen in partnership with sports wagering services and Pennsylvania universities.

The details: - Almond will be available through FanDuel’s gaming ecosystem. - The platform is designed to serve as a digital front door for support across Pennsylvania. - Users who need more help can be connected to licensed in-state treatment providers and community-based services. - The platform is intended to complement Pennsylvania’s established treatment infrastructure, not replace it. - Representative Jim Prokopiak said the effort is about meeting people where they are and strengthening the overall protection framework. - Representative Joe McAndrew said the funding is meant to deliver measurable impact and lower long-term social and economic costs. - Cory Fox, FanDuel’s senior vice president of public policy and sustainability, said the company is focused on giving customers tools to make informed decisions and play with a plan. - Kath Middleton, chief product officer of Almond Digital Health, said Pennsylvania is building an approach that works inside and outside traditional care settings.

Between the lines: - The initiative reflects a shift toward prevention tools that operate at the point of play, rather than relying only on users to seek help after harm becomes severe. - The public-private model suggests Pennsylvania wants consumer protection to be embedded in the regulated online gambling experience. - Almond’s role as a private, anonymous entry point may matter because many people experiencing gambling-related harm never seek formal treatment. - FanDuel’s participation gives the program a direct path to users already inside a major betting platform.

What’s next: - Pennsylvania and FanDuel will evaluate the impact and engagement with Almond. - The initial rollout over the coming weeks will test how well the platform reaches users and routes higher-need cases into care. - The state’s approach could become a model for other jurisdictions looking to expand digital harm prevention at the operator level.