Pennsylvania egaming bill shelved for the year

Hopes of Pennsylvania legalising online gaming this year have been dashed after bill sponsor Rep. John Payne confirmed he had shelved legislation until 2016.

According to reports in Card Player, Payne said he had withdrawn his bill from the legislature but would reintroduce it for consideration in the spring.

Payne did not give a reason for putting his bill on ice, but the state’s ongoing budget impasse may have played a part in his decision.

State lawmakers are currently locked in stalemate over how best to plug Pennsylvania’s multi-billion dollar budget shortfall, with some looking at online gaming as part of the solution.

Earlier reports have estimated that online gaming could generate around $120m in its first year for state coffers, increasing to $300m once the market has matured.

The bill, HB 649, recently made historic progress after being voted out of Committee and onto the House floor for the first time.

Prior to being withdrawn, HB 649 would have to be voted out of the House and onto the Senate before landing on Governor Wolf’s desk to be signed into law.

This year Pennsylvania has picked up the baton as the next state most likely to pass online gaming legislation, while the tribes, cards rooms and racetracks continue to bicker in California.

A number of European operators have already struck partnerships with land-based casinos in the state, with 888 joining forces with Mount Airy while bwin.party confirmed it has a deal in place but has yet to name its partner.