Pennsylvania to reconsider online casino regulation

Pennsylvania Senator Jay Costa has confirmed that he will introduce an online casino bill in the latest bid to legalise internet gambling in the US state. The state has considered regulation in each of the past four years and in 2016 came close with HB2150, a bill that would have enabled land-based casinos in Pennsylvania strike partnerships with approved online gambling technology providers to offer online casino and internet poker. However, while the House of Representatives voted 114-85 in favour of the bill, lawmakers in the state remained undecided on the measure and failed to pass it by the November 30 deadline. Senator Costa has now moved to start the process again by announcing this week in a memorandum that he will use HB2150 as “the base” for his own legislation, adding that he plans to introduce a bill “in the near future”. Costa plans to allow Pennsylvania casinos to offer online gaming services, as long as they secure the necessary approval and pay a licence fee of $10 million (€9.4 million). Companies that partner with casinos to host an online gaming platform will have to pay a licence fee of $5 million, while internet gaming revenue will be taxed at a rate of 25%. In addition, the bill will set out regulation for daily fantasy sports contests, with operators in this sector to pay a licence fee of $2.5 million and tax rate of 25% on revenue. Related articles: Pennsylvania to miss out on online gaming this year – reports Pennsylvania House approves online gambling and DFS legislation