Pennsylvania to miss out on online gaming this year – reports

A bill to regulate online gambling and daily fantasy sports (DFS) in the US state of Pennsylvania is not likely to pass before the end of 2016, according to an official close to legal talks.

Pennsylvania newspaper Tribune-Review quoted Casey Long, director of policy and legislative affairs in the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, as saying that the Senate has no plans to act on the bill, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 114-85.

The state has until November 30 to pass bill HB2150 if it is to come into law before the end of the year, but if not approved by this date it will have to be reintroduced when the next legislative session begins in January.

However, while Long said the Senate has no consensus on the online gaming and DFS proposals, he did say Senate Republicans intend to address a comprehensive gambling package early next year.

While Pennsylvania lawmakers remain undecided on HB2150, the bill has been backed by various organisations in the DFS sector, including the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and operators DraftKings and FanDuel.

Scott Ward represented the two brands during a House Gaming Oversight Committee session last month, describing the bill as a “smart balance between regulation and making sure that we don't create barriers to entry”.

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