A new Pennsylvania online gambling bill being consider by lawmakers goes well beyond online poker.
It’s a big step for the nation’s second largest gambling market, and a potential threat to New Jersey’s dreams of online gambling supremacy.
HB 1325, introduced by Rep. Tina Davis, is the most detailed Pennsylvania igaming bill to date and includes a wide variety of table games absent from previous versions. In its current form, it allows for poker, slot games and table games (to be determined by the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission).
Under the terms of the proposed bill, online player accounts would be tied directly to player clubs at existing land-based casinos. Pennsylvania players would, however, be allowed to log on to their accounts from out of state.
Interstate gaming compacts are allowed if they’re consistent with Federal law and casinos would be taxed 28% on their weekly gross.
While the HB 1325 is potentially great news for Pennsylvania casinos, it’s terrible news for neighboring New Jersey.
The Keystone state’s booming land-based casinos have already cost Atlantic City plenty of players. If Pennsylvania becomes a major player in the online market, they could be a major competitor for lucrative interstate gaming agreements, too.
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