Pennsylvania State Senator Sean Wiley announced in a memorandum that he will introduce a bill that covers multiple facets of the state’s gaming industry. The bill looks to make changes in policy at both land-based and Internet gaming laws.
Wiley proposes legalizing online poker in Pennsylvania. Casino games would be excluded. The bill would direct gaming regulators to draft rules for online poker rooms no earlier than July 1, 2016. Games would go live no sooner than January 1, 2017. All regulated Pennsylvania online poker rooms would be operated by the state’s existing casino companies.
Pennsylvania interactive gaming licenses would cost $500,000. The tax rate would be 36 percent under this bill. The racing industry would receive 2 percent of the tax for promotional activity.
The remainder would be used to fund a school property tax freeze for senior citizens. These funds would be dispersed after $10 million per year in revenue was generated and deposited into a Casino Reinvestment Grant Fund.
