Last year, online gambling legislative efforts made historic progress in the Pennsylvania Legislature. An omnibus gambling expansion bill that, among other things, included the legalization of iGaming options and daily fantasy sports, passed a House of Representatives vote. However, no Senate vote took place before the end of the legislative session.
It was expected that legalization efforts will be rekindled with the start of the new session and those expectations were met. Two House Representatives – George Dunbar and Rosita Youngblood – published a memorandum on Wednesday, seeking co-sponsors for an iGaming and omnibus gambling expansion bill they plan to submit to the Legislature in near future. The latest announcement came a month after State Sen. Jay Costa had informed his fellow legislators that he would present a legislation that will be very similar to the one voted by the House last fall.
Rep. Dunbar and Rep. Youngblood’s proposal will, too, not differ much from what legislators have seen so far. Their bill will allow for the legalization and regulation of online gambling and daily fantasy sports, the use of gaming tablets across the state’s international airports, and the establishment of special private laboratories where gaming manufacturers will be able to test devices and related products.
The legislative piece will also offer a solution to the casino tax issue that surfaced last year, putting in danger much-needed tax revenue to host municipalities. Under the two House Representatives’ proposal, all state casinos will be required to annually pay $10 million to the counties they are located in. Here it is important to note that Category 3 casinos – or casino resorts as they are generally referred to – will be taxed in a different manner.
It is still unknown when exactly the bill will be introduced. The two lawmakers are seeking more legislative support, pointing out that their proposal will be specifically focused on the provision of a regulatory framework that will ensure the integrity of the local gambling industry and the protection of its customers.
Several US states have introduced their own iGaming legalization bills since the beginning of the year. However, it is believed that Pennsylvania is the closest to enforcing an online gambling law. The Commonwealth is currently in a quest for additional revenue sources, so a legalized iGaming industry may be seen as a good budget booster. According to proponents of the idea, online gambling can generate around $100 million in tax for the Pennsylvania treasury.
