The state of Pennsylvania may not be so far from some action on online gambling. Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee (CERD Committee) have received a meeting notice about a voting meeting that will be held to consider House Bill 271 with amendment.
The meeting is set to take place off the floor in the Rules Room on May 23rd.
The House Bill is quite different from other more exhaustible gaming packages that have been pushed for by the Pennsylvania House, as this piece of legislation seeks to make only tablet gaming at certain airports legal. At that time, the lower chamber was discouraged with the fact that previous gambling legislation attempts remained dead and made the decision to send a “clean” bill to the Senate to let it take care of the rest.
As far as airport slot machines are concerned, in April 2017, local lawmakers have already voted against the introduction of slot machines and video gaming terminals offered at airports. The House Bill 271 did not manage to pass, but now, with the forthcoming amendments planned, the piece of legislation could have better chances for further consideration. At that time, legislators unanimously backed the introduction of several amendments to the bill, so the upcoming meeting of the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee is expected to make things clearer.
It is still unknown what exactly the H 271 will look like, as the gaming package provided by the Senate is expected to give more clarity to a number of topics. The Senate’s bill is expected to be more comprehensive, as it to probably take care of both minor and major issues, including license reforms, tax issues and regulatory framework.
The amended version of the H 271 bill is also expected to include provisions under which online gambling in the state of Pennsylvania will be made legal. Of course, regulation and taxation of online gambling in the state of Pennsylvania is also one of the big questions that remain to be answered.
In the bills that has been introduced by the Pennsylvania House so far, a relatively small tax rate in the range from 14% to 16% has been included. At the same time, a number of Senate members have been insisting for a much higher tax rate on slot machines to be imposed. On previous occasions, they have expressed their belief that the online gambling tax rates should mirror, or at least slightly resemble the tax rates imposed on retail gambling operations.
Over the last few years, Pennsylvania has been one of the states that have been eagerly trying to make online gambling legal. State Representatives and their lobbies have introduced a number of bills over the current legislative session.
Now, with the upcoming amendments to the H 271, Pennsylvania could finally become one of the states which officially allow online gambling, or at least certain forms of it.
- Author
Daniel Williams
