Pennsylvania’s budget negotiations between the state’s Governor Tom Wolf and senior lawmakers have brought the matters of gambling expansion to an impasse. The Pennsylvania’s Senate and House broke off for recess without even making an agreement for the major details of such an expansion.
All this has basically put online gambling expansion on hold in the state. The comprehensive gambling package which has been seen as the state’s chance for gambling industry expansion, was not finalised after local legislators have done nothing to ensure such a step. As a matter of fact, the state of Pennsylvania has been expected to once again delay iGaming talks once again, so the impasse was not surprising to anyone.
The spending portion of the state’s budget was officially passed on June 30th. However, the state’s Governor Tom Wolf neither signed, nor vetoed the bill within the ten-day window, which basically means that the budget’s spending portion was approved under the state’s law. In addition, there have been some difficulties between Pennsylvania’s House and Senate on the long-desired gambling expansion. Recently, the state’s Governor, House and Senate have been trying to put the details of the funding bill in order by overcoming their differences.
According to various sources, it was the video gaming terminals which occurred to be the apple of discord between the state’s Senate and House. The latter once again insisted that video gaming terminals must be included in the all-inclusive gambling package, but the Senate disagreed. The two parties tried to find a way out of the situation, but tension rose as the Senate insisted that legislature should not stop working until a funding package is finalised.
The good thing for the gambling expansion package is that the two chambers have reached a consensus on the major points of gambling expansion, including online gambling, daily fantasy sports and online lottery. They have also reached an agreement on the legal status of the so-called satellite casinos.
This, however, did not happen. Currently, local legislature is in recess, and it has still not announced an official date to return. Still, a session could be called on six hours notice, as both chambers remain “on call”.
The state of Pennsylvania has been dealing with a budget deficit lately, with the comprehensive gambling package and the desired gambling expansion being described as its best hope for the time being. Experts say that despite their differences, there is still hope that the two champers would make a compromise.
The House Majority Leader Dave Reed also remained optimistic that a deal could be made over the upcoming weeks, saying that the House and the Senate could use the time away to bring more clarity to their priorities and finally put it back together. Mr. Reed also reminded that everyone has been just sick and tired of going through the same thing over and over again, hinting that local legislature could want to finally reach an agreement over the state’s gambling expansion so that they are not forced to go through the same thing for another year.
- Author
Daniel Williams
