Tom Wolf approves gambling expansion

The Governor of Pennsylvania has signed the bill that legalised a gambling expansion in the state.

US.- Tom Wolf, governor of Pennsylvania, signed today the legislation that was needed to balance the state’s US$32 billion budget, which includes a gambling expansion. The bill was approved by the House and the Senate late last week.

“There’s been a lot of pressure from a lot of places in the commonwealth to actually expand this, and we do need some recurring revenue. Again, the goal has been, all along, to do what’s prudent, not cannibalise existing gambling revenue coming to the state, and I think what we’re settling on will actually do that,” said Wolf.

HB-271 was passed by the Senate on Wednesday night after discussions that included several delays. The House received the bill on Thursday morning and approved it a few hours later, with an imposed tax of 54 percent on online slots revenue, and 16 percent on online poker and casino table games. The bill is set to generate up to US$239 million in revenue this fiscal year and help close a budget gap that has been taunting Pennsylvania for quite some time now.

Governor Wolf received a 939 page gaming bill that was reviewed over the weekend and is expected to take effect in the next 60 days. The state regulator needs that time frame to begin the process of making new regulations and accept new applications. Once the companies can start bidding for a license, the casinos have 120 days to submit their applications.

Pennsylvania was already the second biggest state in the country only after Nevada, and has now become the first to offer online gambling and online lotteries.