A new anti-online gambling bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, aiming to make all online betting illegal in the Commonwealth. Introduced by State Representative Thomas P. Murt (R – District 152), it is the polar opposite of the two pro-online gambling bills that are currently before the House.
Murt’s bill is actually just a reintroduction of former State Representative Paul Clymer’s bill from last year, one which had the backing of Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson. And whereas bills that look to explicitly legalize online poker in a state are naturally complicated because of all the regulatory language they include, Murt’s HB 1013 is incredibly simple. Just two pages, the bill would just amend laws currently on the books.
The most pertinent amendment would be made to Section 1202(a) of Title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and would read, “(7) The board shall not promulgate rules and regulations allowing any form of Internet gambling.”
That’s it. Pretty straight forward. Online gambling will not be allowed should HB 1013 pass.
The bill also laid out the penalties associated with online gambling:
(d.1) Internet gambling.–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.
(e) Penalty.–
(1) Any person who fails to provide records as provided in subsection (d) commits a summary offense.
(2) A first offense under subsection (d.1) shall be considered a first offense punishable by a fine of not more than $300.
(3) A second offense under subsection (d.1) shall be considered a summary offense punishable by a fine of not more than $600 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed three days.
(4) A third or subsequent offense under subsection (d.1) shall be considered a third degree misdemeanor.
HB 1013 was referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee, whose Chairman is, perhaps coincidentally, Representative John Payne (R – District 106), whose HB 140, designed to legalize and regulate online gambling in Pennsylvania, was one of the primary topics of discussion in a recent hearing. He also sponsored House Resolution 140, which urged the United States Congress to reject Adelson’s Restoration of America’s Wire Act, a bill which would make online poker illegal in the U.S.
A number of other State Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors of HB 1013:
Matthew E. Baker (R – 68th District)
Gary Day (R – 187th District)
Rob W. Kauffman (R – 89th District)
John A. Lawrence (R – 13th District)
Stephen McCarter (D -154th District)
Will Tallman (R – 193rd District)
David H. Zimmerman (R – 99th District)
Pennsylvania is regarded as the state that is probably the most likely to be the next legalize online poker. It is in an area of the country where brick-and-mortar competition is fierce, with Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, and Ohio, all having large casinos. New Jersey and Delaware have also legalized online poker, reducing the need for residents of those states to travel to Pennsylvania to play.