Pennsylvania online gaming bill passes out of Committee
Poker and casino legislation moves onto the House for a full vote
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have taken an historic step towards a regulated egaming industry after voting unanimously in favor of a bill seeking to legalize online poker and casino. [private]
HB 649, introduced by Rep. John Payne back in February, passed through the House Gaming Oversight Committee with a majority 18-8 vote.
The bill still faces an uphill battle before being passed into law, but this is the first time Pennsylvania politicians have voted online gaming legislation out of Committee and onto the House floor.
Head of the Poker Players Alliance John Pappas applauded the Committee for passing the bill but said the bill ânow needs to become lawâ.
âNew Jersey, Nevada and Delaware are already successfully providing their residents with a safe and regulated online gaming market [â¦] and now itâs Pennsylvaniaâs turn,â he said.
âHB 649 is a win-win opportunity that Pennsylvaniaâs lawmakers cannot afford to miss,â Pappas added.
The bill will now be put to a vote in the full House, then onto the Senate before landing on Governor Wolfâs desk to be signed into law.
There is still a chance the bill could get wrapped up in the stateâs budget, which has yet to be signed off while lawmakers do battle over how best to fill its multi-billion dollar shortfall.
Duane Morris attorney Eric Frank said if the bill is wrapped up in the budget there is âno wayâ Governor Wolf could veto it, but as a standalone bill he could.
âAt the end of the day though, if it gets through both houses I think the Governor would sign because it would be viewed as a revenue enhancer and job creation bill,â he added.