According to the Poker Players Alliance, the Pennsylvania Gaming Oversight Committee will vote on an online gambling bill (HB 649), and potentially other gambling reform measures, on Tuesday morning.
The vote has been anticipated for several weeks, and if a vote is held, it’s anticipated to pass.
Anecdotal evidence definitely seems to indicate that iGaming expansion is extremely a lot in play in Pennsylvania. First there was Sheldon Adelson’s Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling (CSIG) producing a web attack ad decrying Chairman John Payne’s efforts to pass an internet gambling bill. More lately, an op-ed at PennLive.com criticizing Adelson’s meddling in Pennsylvania politics was published.
More concrete proof also exists.
Despite numerous hearing cancellations over the past month, the Gaming Oversight Committee’s Chairman and sponsor of HB 649, Representative Payne, has been firm in his belief that a vote on on-line gambling continues to be within the cards and that on-line poker expansion continues to be a viable addition towards the state spending budget.
“The cancellation of today’s hearing has no impact on on-line gambling,” Payne told me following the calling off of an October 27 hearing, adding, “A vote [on online gambling] continues to be being anticipated.”
It is unclear if on-line gambling will probably be the only gaming reform voted on by the Home Gaming Oversight Committee on Tuesday, but iGaming expansion appears to become the important gaming reform the legislature is focusing on. Additionally, it appears to become the gaming reform using the most assistance.
The most most likely car for online gambling expansion will be the bill sponsored by Home Gaming Oversight Committee Chairman John Payne: HB 649. At this time it is unclear if any amendments towards the bill will be added prior to the vote.
As currently written, HB 649 would legalize and regulate on-line gambling in Pennsylvania using the following specifications:
Operator licenses could be accessible to the state’s brick and mortar casinos – on-line gaming companies would possess the capability to partner with these properties;
The licensing fee would be $5 million using the state collecting a 14 % tax on gross gaming income;
The bill would give law enforcement the capability to crack down on unlicensed operators.
A separate gaming reform bill (SB 900) that originated within the state senate was less friendly to potential stakeholders, as it imposed a 54 % tax on gross gaming revenue for on-line gaming operators.
Other gaming reform choices the legislature has discussed this year include:
Online lottery sales.
Easing regulation governing “tavern gaming.”
Regulating games of skill.
DFS legalization and regulation.
Adding slot machines at airports and off-track betting parlors for a one-time fee.
Removing membership specifications for Category three “Resort” casinos to get a one-time charge.
Increasing the amount of hours casinos can serve alcohol.
When the House Gaming Oversight Committee passes an online gambling bill, it is only the very first step. There would be two possible paths forward, as a standalone bill or as component of the state’s 2016 spending budget.
If the committee passes an online gambling bill on Tuesday, the following move could be a vote on the house floor followed by a vote within the state senate. If passed by each bodies, the bill would land around the desk of Governor Tom Wolf.
The other possible path forward could be for the legislature to consist of iGaming expansion, and possibly other gaming reforms, inside a budget compromise cope with the governor. The 2016 state spending budget is 4 months past due, and the legislature and the governor are trying to reach an agreeable compromise, which many really feel will include online gambling.
If online gambling is added to the budget, it could be voted on as an omnibus bill by the Pennsylvania House and Senate.