Pennsylvania looks increasingly like the online poker legalisation hot spot at present, with this week seeing another bill introduced to the state House.
The proposal, titled HB 920, comes from Representative Tina Davis, whom our readers will recall tried unsuccessfully in 2013 to achieve legalisation with an almost identical proposal that stalled in committee.
Her latest attempt appears to be gaining some traction, with 11 sponsors already signed up as it moves to the House Committee on Gambling Oversight, where Davis is a member and Rep. John Payne – a proponent of online gambling – is chairman.
Maintaining interest on the issue is the proximity of the committee’s extensive hearing on internet gambling due to start April 16, with a wide range of expert testimony that will hopefully be more informative and unbiased than the Chaffetz hearings on RAWA in Congress recently (see previous reports).
A second hearing on internet gambling is scheduled for May 6 this year.
Davis’ proposal joins those of Rep. John Payne filed in February and seeking the legalisation of online gambling in general (HB649), and a proposal from Rep. Nick Miccarelli launched last (March) month (HB695).
A state-commissioned study last year reported that regulated online poker could generate revenues of $129 million annually once the Pennsylvanian market matures, and online casino action in the state could create revenues of $178 million annually.
Pennsylvania has a population of 12.76 million people and currently regulates 12 land casinos.
The Davis proposal can be accessed here: