Having blown past their soft deadline of July 1, Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled state legislature is still trying to iron out a budget agreement with newly-elected Democratic Governor Tom Wolf. And so far, that has not included talk of online gambling expansion. Wolf is intent on raising revenue by overhauling the state’s income tax code and creating new taxes on, among other things, natural gas production. On the other hand, the legislature would like to raise the necessary revenue without raising taxes. Republicans are of the opinion this can be accomplished by reforming existing revenue channels. One of the proposals put forth…

Pennsylvania could become a leader in online gambling, but a high tax rate could kill the idea before players can place a bet, say two advocates of Internet gambling. “People won’t invest proper marketing dollars to drive revenue if the tax rate’s too high,” says David Licht, executive chairman and CEO of All American Poker Network, which operates an online network in New Jersey and has an agreement with Mt. Airy Casino, Monroe County, to set up online gaming if Pennsylvania legalizes it. “If the tax rate is exceedingly high, the operator is going to take that out on the…

An online gambling bill in Pennsylvania remains in limbo as a deadline for the state budget looms and an impasse between Gov. Tom Wolf and Republicans in the legislature is unresolved. Since a Senate hearing in the Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee held earlier this month, there’s been little to report in terms of progress for any of the five proposed bills in Pennsylvania that would regulate internet gambling. The online gambling bill, though, is just one of the moving parts as Pennsylvania attempts to pass a budget to fund the state government. The budget has a soft deadline of Tuesday. Republicans…

Nearly all Pennsylvania casinos, and a number of key legislators, are principally united in support of online gaming. But those hoping to cross the regulatory bridge must first contend with an imposing foe: Sheldon Adelson. And backed by the casino magnate’s estimated $28 billion fortune, an oppositional campaign is already underway in the state. Sands Bethlehem boss Mark Juliano testified recently at a hearing of Senator Kim Ward’s Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee. Echoing Adelson’s opposition, Juliano sharply criticized regulatory efforts. “Today, proposals are being considered which will erode the successful progress we have made in Pennsylvania,” said Juliano,…

Only in Pennsylvania: Gamblers would not be allowed to register online to open Internet gambling accounts unless they live more than 20 miles away as the crow flies from a bricks-and-mortar casino. Any closer, and they would have to travel to a casino and register in person, under the provisions of a Senate bill in Harrisburg calling for big changes to the state’s gambling landscape. The goal is to give the brick-and-mortar casinos a better chance to tap into their local target audience. It’s an unusual move. None of the other states that have legalized online gambling – Nevada, Delaware,…

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…