- A hearing to discuss online gaming in the state of Pennsylvania will be held Tuesday, June 3, by the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee (CERD).
- The main topic of discussion during the hearing will be a recent study published by the state’s Legislative Budget and Finance Committee that outlines how igaming could benefit Pennsylvania.
A hearing to discuss online gaming in the state of Pennsylvania will be held Tuesday, June 3, by the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee (CERD).
The main topic of discussion during the hearing will be a recent study published by the state’s Legislative Budget and Finance Committee that outlines how igaming could benefit Pennsylvania.
Dubbed “The Current Condition and Future Viability of Casino Gaming in Pennsylvania,” the Econsult report estimates that Pennsylvania could eventually obtain $307 million in annual revenues from regulated online gaming; including $129 million from Internet poker.
The study came to fruition late last year after CERD unanimously voted to pursue the viability of online gambling in PA.
Land Based Gambling Versus iGaming
Arguments for and against Internet gaming in the state are expected to be posed during Tuesday’s hearing.
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s study assumes that internet gaming licenses in the state would be provided to land based casinos already in operation; thus boosting their revenue stream.
The report also concludes that land based casinos could reap potential income benefits ranging from $15m to $92m per year based on the legalization of virtual gambling in the state.
However, opposition to legalized online gaming in Pennsylvania is expected to be expressed by Las Vegas Sands Senior VP Andy Abboud, who will be speaking on behalf of the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA according to OnlinePokerReport.com.
Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is a powerful opponent of Internet gaming, and is also the founder of the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling (CSIG).
