Pa Gambling Expansion Bill
A newly unveiled measure to expand casino-style gambling in Pennsylvania — already the nation’s No. 2 commercial casino state — is on the move in the Legislature in a bid to help the state government plug its biggest cash shortfall since the recession.
What the PA gaming expansion bill does. The bill would legalize online slot machines, online table games and online poker throughout Pennsylvania. It also regulates daily fantasy sports, sports betting (if federally legalized), online lottery, video gaming terminals at truck stops, and tablet gaming in airports.
- Casino gambling in Pennsylvania reached a new record level of revenue in 2016, raking in $3. He said 25,000 to 35,000 video gaming machines could be operational in the state after full.
- (AP) – The Latest on the Pennsylvania Legislature’s budget votes (all times local): 8 p.m. The Pennsylvania Senate has approved a plan to expand casino-style gambling to truck.
- SB1256 would multiply non-casino slot machines by over 400x. Currently, there are less than 200 slot machines (VGTs) in various truck stops throughout Pennsylvania; legalized through the 2017 massive gambling expansion. SB1256 would allow for the expansion of those slot machines to reach over 80,000 – over 400 times the current amount.
- Pennsylvania could expand online gambling Pennsylvania is considering a bill to authorize video gambling terminals at more than 10,000 bars, taverns and restaurants throughout the state. Some prominent Republican lawmakers support the bill, but it is widely opposed by Pennsylvania’s casino industry and by a bipartisan coalition of legislators.
The heavily lobbied legislation emerged from behind closed doors Wednesday night as part of wider budget negotiations, after competing measures passed the House and Senate in the last five months. It involves a jumble of concepts that offer a combination of license fees and taxes on new gambling losses. The Senate passed it, 31-19. The measure requires approval by the House and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Here is a look at some of the elements:
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SATELLITE CASINOS
Each of Pennsylvania’s 10 larger casinos would be able to bid on a satellite casino license allowing up to 750 slot machines and 30 table games at a facility that is not within 25 miles of another casino. Bidding starts at $7.5 million, with a table games certificate costing an extra $2.5 million. License fees and taxes on gambling at the sites would go into the treasuries of local and state governments, as well public schools and economic and civic development projects.
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GAMBLING AT TRUCK STOPS
Qualifying truck stops could operate up to five slot machine-style video gambling terminals. The revenue would be split between the state, the license holder, terminal operators and host counties and municipalities.
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ONLINE GAMBLING
Licensed commercial casinos, both in Pennsylvania and beyond, can apply to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to operate casino-style gambling on websites and mobile applications to people in Pennsylvania. A license fee of up to $10 million would be necessary to operate a website. Gross revenue from gambling on online slot machine-style games would be taxed at a 52 percent rate, while online table game revenue would be taxed at 14 percent. Just three states — New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada — allow online casino gambling.
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LOTTERY
The Pennsylvania Lottery would be able to offer keno and feature online games, including its existing games, instant tickets and raffle games. The proceeds would go into the state Lottery Fund, which subsidizes programs for the elderly. The lottery would be prohibited from operating casino-style games online, such as poker, roulette, slot machines and blackjack. Four states — Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan — allow online lottery play, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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LOCAL SHARE
Casinos would be required to pay millions of dollars annually to their host communities, reinstating a mandate struck down by the state Supreme Court last year because it treated casinos differently. The requirement had meant about $140 million that Pennsylvania’s casinos pay annually to local government budgets, institutions and projects in Philadelphia and 11 counties.
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AIRPORT GAMBLING
Casinos could seek approval to operate an interactive gambling parlor at an international or regional airport in Pennsylvania, with an agreement from the airport authority. The machines would be accessible only to ticketed passengers and license fees would be required. Eligible airports are: Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Erie; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; Lehigh Valley; Harrisburg; Arnold Palmer Regional Airport; and University Park Airport in State College. Taxes on airport gambling revenue would go to the state and local governments.
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FANTASY SPORTS
Daily fantasy sports betting in Pennsylvania would become regulated and taxed in Pennsylvania. Fantasy sports operators would have to pay a $50,000 license fee and a 15 percent tax based on in-state participation. Applicants would have to verify that players are at least 18.
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SPORTS BETTING
Casinos could apply to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to offer sports betting at the casino or online, should it become legal under federal law or under a federal court ruling. A license would be $10 million.
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RESORT CASINOS
Resort casinos — Valley Forge Casino in suburban Philadelphia and Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in southwestern Pennsylvania — can pay a $1 million fee to be relieved from requirements in the original 2004 casino law that gamblers must also take part in other amenities at the establishment.
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CASINO OWNERSHIP
A 2004 provision limiting ownership of casinos to no more than one controlling stake in one casino would be repealed.
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Source: Pennsylvania Senate Republicans.
New legislation is working its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly that would once again expand gambling vices throughout the Commonwealth – and it’s far time that families say enough is enough.
Senate Bill 1256 would allow for over 80,000 slot machines (called video gaming terminals or VGTs) in thousands of local communities across Pennsylvania. Here are three reasons why this latest proposal is very troubling:
1) SB1256 would spread a form of gambling that elevates the risk of addiction.
These video slot machines are the worst form of gambling when it comes to addiction rates. They have been called “electronic morphine” and the “crack cocaine” of gambling due to their visual appeal and fast pace of play.
SB1256 not only would be spreading one of the most highly addictive forms of gambling across our state, but place them in thousands of local communities well outside of brick-and-mortar casinos. States like Illinois have shown that low income neighborhoods are often targeted.
2) We already have too much state-sponsored gambling.
Pennsylvania has already expanded more forms of gambling than almost every other state. In 2004, then-Governor Ed Rendell declared “the people of Pennsylvanians are true winners” with the legalization of what became twelve brick-and-mortar casinos offering tens of thousands of slot machines. (To note: Rendell said at the time, ”We are beginning to reverse the tide of unfairly burdening Pennsylvania homeowners.” How many have received any significant property tax relief?)
These machines “are usually played at a much faster rate than other games, so players can lose money much more quickly,” says the Center for Addiction and Mental Health.
Pa Gambling Expansion Bill 2019
Today, in large part due to Pennsylvania’s most recent gambling expansion in 2017, speed of play is a priority with a slew of new gambling forms:
- Keno: “Fast-paced game.” Drawings held every four minutes.
- iLottery: “Play 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” Drawings held every few minutes.
- Fast Play: Online scratch-off games allow you to gamble “without scratching the ticket or waiting for a drawing.”
- Online casinos: Live dealers 24/7. Place bets anytime, anywhere in Pennsylvania.
- Sports betting: Live betting on every sport anytime, anywhere.
- Video gaming terminals in truck stops: the “crack-cocaine” of gambling, now turning dozens of truck stops into mini-casinos.
The Council of Compulsive Gambling in Pennsylvania identifies one risk factor for gambling addiction as the fast speed of play. Yet that’s exactly what SB1256 is trying to further expand across the Commonwealth.
3. SB1256 would multiply non-casino slot machines by over 400x.
Currently, there are less than 200 slot machines (VGTs) in various truck stops throughout Pennsylvania; legalized through the 2017 massive gambling expansion. SB1256 would allow for the expansion of those slot machines to reach over 80,000 – over 400 times the current amount.
Pennsylvania families need real revenue solutions. Gambling is not the answer. More gambling options that emphasize a fast speed of play is a bad recipe for families in Pennsylvania.
Pa Gambling Expansion Bill Online
As the Philadelphia Inquirer puts it, each gambling expansion “is focused on maximizing revenues with little regard for the negative impact on local communities.”
Pa Gambling Expansion Bill Details
Take Action: Please Pennsylvania, No More Gambling!
Contact your state elected officials and tell them please, no more gambling! To email, click here or go to pafamily.org/nomore