Pennsylvania online gambling bill is still alive

Back in July, the Pennsylvania legislature submitted a gaming reform package, HB 2150, which passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

US.- In July, the Pennsylvania legislature completed the state’s 2016-17 budget. One of the budget’s funding sources was a comprehensive gaming and online gambling reform bill, highlighted by the legalisation and regulation of online poker and casino games.

Even though it was included as a funding source, the gaming reform package, HB 2150 passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and then the Senate postponed the passage of the bill for a later date.

Now the Senate will return to Harrisburg on September 26 which means it will have just nine days from that point to pass an omnibus gaming reform bill. Failure to pass the bill during this narrow window doesn’t mean the online gambling bill will be dead in Pennsylvania, although it does complicate matters.

If the Senate strips out most of the controversial items, such as VGTs at airports and off-track-betting facilities and leaves online gambling, daily fantasy sports and the lifting of restrictions on the state’s Category 3 casinos for a one-time fee, the new legislation could be passed relatively quickly.

Now, if the bill is passed by the legislature, it’s almost guaranteed Governor Tom Wolf will sign it, considering he already signed off on its inclusion in the budget.