The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic Policy Committee is holding a public hearing tomorrow morning to discuss internet gaming. This is not to be confused with a formal government hearing, as the Democratic Policy Committee is not an actual House committee. Rather, it is a committee formed by House Democrats that “serves as a catalyst to enacting major policy initiatives put forth by members of the House Democratic Caucus.” The committee often holds public hearings outside of Harrisburg, but this one will be in the state capital.
Representative Mike Sturla (D – Lancaster) is the chair of the committee and should be in attendance. The co-chairwomen of the hearing will be Representatives Rosita Youngblood (D – Philadelphia), who is also the chairwoman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, and Tina Davis (D – Bucks). The hearing will be held in 418 Main Capitol Building and is slated to run from 10:00am to 12:30pm.
Below is the agenda and panelists for the hearing, as published on the committee’s website:
10:00am – Welcome and opening remarks
10:10am – Panel one on policy and regulatory issues:
• Kevin O’Toole, executive director, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
• James Kilsby, managing director Americas, GamblingCompliance
• Ewa Bakun, head of content-gaming, Clarion Events
• Geoffrey Dixon, managing director, Vivid Interface Ltd.
10:50am – Panel two on social impact issues:
• Patty Aftab, a lawyer, founder and executive director, Wired Safety
• Keith Whyte, executive director, National Council on Problem Gambling
• Jim Pappas, executive director, Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania
11:20am – Panel three on technology and consumer protection issues:
• Peter Murray, head of gaming and consumer services, GB Group
• Doug Lewin, executive vice president for strategic partnerships and development, Optimal Payments
• Anna Sainsbury, founder and CEO, GeoComply
11:50am – Panel four on gaming industry issues:
• David Satz, senior vice president of government relations and development, Caesars Entertainment Corp.
• Bob Green, chairman, Parx Casino and Racing
• Schott Bohrer and Manu Gambhir, managing partners, Thrive Gaming
• John Pappas, executive director, Poker Players Alliance
12:30 pm – Closing remarks
Pennsylvania is in a position where it must at the very least consider online gaming, as competition in the region is heating up quickly. For years, Atlantic City, about an hour drive from Philadelphia, was the east coast hub for brick-and-mortar gambling, but Pennsylvania, along with Delaware and Maryland, has been quickly poaching its visitors with quality casinos of its own. But now that New Jersey and Delaware have online gaming (along with the neighboring states’ brick-and-mortar casinos), Pennsylvania could feel that its gambling industry is being threatened.
The Commonwealth certainly has the population to support an online gaming industry. With nearly 12.8 million residents, it ranks sixth in the United States, about 4 million people ahead of New Jersey.
