Pennsylvania House approves online gambling and DFS legislation
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has given its approval to a bill that could lead to the legalisation of online gambling and daily fantasy sports (DFS) in the US state.
The House yesterday (Tuesday) voted 114-85 in favour of HB 2150, which had been rejected last week over a component regarding to video gaming terminals, although this element has now been removed from the approved bill.
Should the Pennsylvania Senate opt to pass the legislation, it would allow land-based casinos to strike partnerships with approved online gambling technology providers to offer online casino and internet poker to residents in the state.
Those casinos that launch an online offering would have to pay $8 million (€7.2 million) upfront for a five-year licence, as well as renewal fees of $250,000, while online gaming technology partners would pay $2 million for the licence and $100,000 for renewals.
Internet gaming operations would be taxed at a rate of 16% of online revenue, with 14% of this amount going direct to the state and a further 2% kept aside for economic development projects.
The bill also sets out legislation for slots and mobile gaming at six airports in the state, although mobile gaming would be restricted to inside the airports and would not be authorised on a statewide basis.
Should the bill pass in the Senate, it would make Pennsylvania only the second US state to introduce a legalised online poker market, with Nevada currently the only other market to offer such a service.
Aside from online gaming, the bill would also allow for DFS operators to acquire a licence to operate in the state and pay 5% tax on fantasy revenue generated from Pennsylvania residents.
A five-year DFS licence would cost $50,000 or 7.5% of an operator’s adjusted revenue from the previous year, although casinos wishing to offer this type of service would have to pay the full $50,000.
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