Pennsylvania ends ban on casino lobbying
Private casino companies were unable to contribute to political campaigns but now a Judge ruled against it.
US.- Private casino and betting companies will be able to contribute to political campaigns in Pennsylvania, as a recent US Supreme Court resolution has ended the ban on the activity in the state. The Federal Court ruled in favour of casino owners and owners of stakes in companies related to the gaming industry, as they were previously banned from contributing to political campaniles under a state’s law.
According to the US District Judge Sylvia Rambo sentenced in her 31-page opinion last Wednesday, the Pennsylvanian ban was “unconstitutional,” as it “violates constitutional protections over political association,” as the local press revealed. However, Pennsylvania could set another legislation limiting the possibilities for private casino companies from participating in political campaigns and fundings.
“The court holds only that the ban in its current form goes much further than necessary to achieve its stated purpose of eliminating corruption and the appearance of corruption,” Rambo wrote. Furthermore, the statement reads that “preventing corruption, or the appearance of corruption, is the only sufficient reason to justify restrictions on political contributions.”
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has legislated its iGaming market with different rules for local casinos that want to add the online gaming service and gaming companies outside of the state. Under the regulation, nine companies will be able to immediately operate iGaming platforms in Pennsylvania, with Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood Casino and Rush Street’s SugarHouse Casino already in the market.
