It seems to be one step forward, two steps backwards for Pennsylvania’s efforts to introduce legal and regulated online gambling. On Friday, state legislators filed House Bill 801, known also as the Banning Internet Gambling in Pennsylvania Act. The proposal will see state laws amended so that the official gambling authority, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board would “not promulgate rules and regulations allowing any form of internet gambling.”
HB 801 was introduced by Rep. Thomas Murt and four other co-sponsors.
According to the proposal, operators who are caught offering igambling services could be fined a few hundred dollars if it’s their first offence and up to a third degree misdemeanor (up to a year in prison and a $2,000 fine) on their third offence.
The bill reads that “no individual or entity shall solicit, invite, collect or accept cash or any other form of currency through the internet for the purposes of wagering or betting. No individual or entity shall organize, or cause to be organized, any type of gambling event that is held over the internet.”
In 2014, Rep. Mario Scavello proposed a similar bill, although his sentiments have clearly changed over the years and he is now pushing to include online gambling in a gambling expansion plan to help Pennsylvania’s suffering budget.
The proposal comes at a time that Pennsylvania seems to be gathering support for online gambling as a means to bring much needed funds into the state’s coffers.
