Pennsylvania is among the states that have been considering the legalization of online gambling. And according to experts, it is particularly likely to join Delaware and New Jersey in this venture.
Certain legislators believe that online gambling might be good for the state and its economy, in particular. It seems, however, that Gov. Tom Wolf, who stepped on his position on January 20, 2015, is not particularly keen on any expansion of gambling on the territory of the state.
Yet, some suggest that if he sees in online gambling an opportunity to achieve the goals he had put before himself, he might consider the matter. Prior to being elected, Gov. Wolf promised that he would do his best to increase Pennsylvania’s funding for public education. He said he would do that by imposing higher income taxes on the state’s well-to-do residents. Experts believe that the governor will need some additional sources of revenue and online gambling might be one of those.
Speaking of revenue, Pennsylvania has managed to surpass states such as New Jersey and Indiana in total income from gambling-related activities. This is due to the fact that during the past decade, the state has repeatedly expanded its land-based gambling industry. By 2010, a total of 13 slot licenses have been granted to venues on its territory, not to mention that licensed casinos were permitted to start offering table games to their customers.
And the expansion of the industry has quite naturally resulted in higher demand from both residents and guests of the state who enjoy engaging in gambling activities.
In fact, Pennsylvania officials started discussing the possibility for legalization of online gambling back in 2013, when State Rep. Tina Davis submitted House Bill 1235, which marked the beginning of more serious talks on the matter. Her proposal, however, gathered only 11 supporters.
Yet, it could be said that House Bill 1235 led to a Legislature’s order for a study to be conducted on the best possible option for an expansion of the gambling industry on the territory of the state. The results from it were announced last year and it turned out that online gambling is exactly what Pennsylvania needs.
Furthermore, in 2014, the matter was additionally discussed during two special hearings. At the second hearing, Andy Abboud, a spokesperson for gambling operator Las Vegas Sands, stated that the company is opposing any expansion of the industry that involves online operations. Mr. Abboud’s statement was not a surprise, as his boss, Sheldon Adelson, is among the keen proponents of RAWA, a countrywide initiative that aims at restricting online gambling.
This second hearing was followed by the introduction of yet another bill, but it did not meet strong support.
Back in February 2015, House Bill 649 was proposed by State Rep. John Payne, who is currently heading the Gaming Oversight Committee. If this bill is passed into law, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will have to review each and every option related to online gambling and to introduce due regulations for the games it approves.
Last week, a hearing was held on the matter and representatives from the state’s gambling venues were asked to express their opinion on whether interactive gambling would be good for Pennsylvania and its residents.
Jan Jones Blackhurst, who is taking the position of an executive vice president of Caesars Entertainment Group, told members of the Gaming Oversight Committee that online gambling is present in all of the country’s states, although it is illegal in most of them. He also pointed out that this creates environment for all kinds of criminal activities, not to mention that local economies suffer, as no tax revenue is generated.
If, however, Pennsylvania Legislature decides to authorize online operations, players will be provided with better experience and protections.
In addition to this, a study, conducted by H2 Gambling Capital, repeated the prognosis of the above-mentioned study from 2014, which stated that as much as $300 million could be annually generated out of online gambling. Of those, $43 million would go to the state’s coffers.
Only time will tell whether Pennsylvania will soon legalize its online gaming operations. But Gaming Oversight Committee members are expected to hold more hearings with representatives from states where interactive gambling has been permitted, as well as with police officers who patrol local casinos.
