Highlights of gambling legislation in the Pennsylvania House
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday to expand legalized casino-style gambling to websites, airports and mobile applications. The measure passed, 114-85, and was sent to the Senate. Here is a look at the highlights:
FANTASY SPORTS
Daily fantasy sports betting in Pennsylvania would become regulated and taxed in Pennsylvania. Fantasy sports companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings would have to apply to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for a license and pay a 5 percent tax based on in-state participation. Applicants would have to verify that players are at least 18, their identity and location.
ONLINE GAMBLING
Licensed commercial casinos in Pennsylvania can apply to the gaming board to operate casino-style gambling on websites and mobile applications. The fee to operate a website would be $8 million. Mobile applications would only be accessible at an international airport in Pennsylvania. Proceeds from website gambling would be taxed at a 14 percent rate to the state and 2 percent for economic development projects. Mobile application gambling would be taxed at a 34 percent rate to the state and 20 percent to the airport.
SLOT MACHINES AT AIRPORTS
Casinos could seek approval from the gaming board to operate slot machines at an international airport in Pennsylvania. The machines would be accessible only to ticketed passengers. Fees to install the machines would be $5 million at the Philadelphia airport, $2.5 million for the Pittsburgh airport and $1 million for the other airports, including Erie, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg. Airport slot-machine gambling would be taxed at a 34 percent rate to the state and 20 percent to the airport.
SLOT MACHINES AT OFF-TRACK BETTING PARLORS
The gaming board could authorize casinos to operate up to 250 slot machines at any of the 10 licensed off-track betting parlors in Pennsylvania. The fee to operate slot machines at a facility would be $5 million. Slot-machine gambling at the sites would be taxed at a 54 percent rate, 92 percent of which would go to the state and the rest to be split between the host county and municipality.
SPORTS BETTING
Casinos could apply to the gaming board to operate sports betting at the casino or online, should it become legal under federal law or under a federal court ruling.
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Source: House Republicans.
