Pennsylvania Moves Towards Online Gambling Legalization

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Pennsylvania has taken a giant step toward becoming the fourth American state to legalize some form of online gambling. Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey already allow gambling online. The Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee today voted to pass a bill to license and regulate online gaming.

Republican State Representative John Payne had introduced the bill, known as HB 649 earlier this year. Incidentally he is also the committee's chairman. The passage was by no means an easy one. It took 11 months and 25 hearings before the bill was finally passed. But the wide 18-8 margin was immensely satisfying. Payne said, “… the members of this committee on both sides of the aisle voted in favor of something that we think will be very important to the residents of Pennsylvania.”

There is lot of work yet to be done. Next, the bill will now have to pass a full House vote. After that it would have to be cleared by the Senate. If all this happens, then the bill would land on the desk of Governor Tom Wolf for his consent. Payne indicated that it was impossible to put a time-table to this. He completed his job as chairman by getting the bill out of committee as soon as possible. He also pointed out that the House Representatives received an updated package of the bill every month. Payne singled out two beneficiary groups of the bill. Players wagering at unlicensed and unregulated online casinos are currently at risk for fraud and abuse. His legislation would also protect children by imposing significant financial and criminal penalties for operators that allow minors to gamble.

The Poker Players Alliance was one of the first pro online gambling agencies to applaud the development. John Pappas, executive director of the PPA, said that the House Gaming Oversight Committee has proven its commitment to providing Pennsylvania residents with a safe and regulated place to gamble online within the state borders. He also pointed out the importance of converting this bill into law. He said that the safety of consumers and the fiscal health of Pennsylvania will be vastly improved when Internet gaming is appropriately licensed, regulated and taxed.

HB 649 deals with some other aspects of gambling as well. It authorizes slot machines to be offered in racinos, off-track betting locations and at six of Pennsylvania’s international airports. The committee struck down an amendment to allow video gaming at restaurants and clubs. Payne said the initial licensing and registrations fees could generate more than $200 million.

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