Signed by Governor Tom Wolf

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that regulates the gaming industry in Pennsylvania.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is responsible for regulating and financially auditing licensed operators of interactive games and fantasy contests (Sec. 1).

• Requires operators to obtain a specific license to host fantasy contests and a certificate to provide interactive gaming (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Board to access criminal history records of any individual or establishment applying for or currently holding a license or certificate (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits individuals under the age of 21 from having an interactive gaming account and individuals under the age of 18 from participating in fantasy contests (Sec. 1).

• Requires operators to pay a license renewal fee of $50,000 or 7.5% of the contest revenues for the previous year, whichever is less, in order to continue hosting fantasy contests (Sec. 1).

• Requires licensed airport operators to pay a one-time fee to host interactive gaming, which will range between $250,000 and $5 million depending on whether the airport is of international or first class status (Sec. 19).

• Requires a 12% tax on revenue from fantasy contests to be paid on a quarterly basis by an operator to the Department of Revenue (Sec. 1).

• Requires a revenue tax of 16% for peer-to-peer interactive games and 54% for non-peer-to-peer interactive games to be paid on a weekly basis to the Department of Revenue (Sec 3).

• Establishes the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund to support marketing and capital development of the gaming industry (Sec. 20).

• Establishes the Drug and Alcohol Program and the Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund to develop guidelines for public education, awareness, and training regarding the treatment and prevention of compulsive gambling (Sec. 20).

• Authorizes the Board to impose penalties, and suspend or revoke the licenses and certificates of any operator or individual found in violation of this bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that regulates the gaming industry in Pennsylvania.

Highlights:

• Requires any entity including an airport to acquire a supplier license before it can legally provide gaming devices in designated areas (Secs. 1, 5 & 6).

• Specifies the procedures for inspection and certification of gaming areas (Sec. 3).

• Requires gaming suppliers to submit a report to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board that details any revenue, fees, taxes, and fines collected from or associated with game related activity (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that the gaming funds and taxes owed by a gaming center to the state of Pennsylvania must be held in a separate bank account, paid on a weekly basis, and re-appropriated by the state to each gaming center thereafter (Sec. 6)

• Establishes the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to develop guidelines for public education, awareness, and training regarding the treatment and prevention of compulsive gambling (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits individuals under the age of 21 from entering a designated gaming area or center, observing the use of a gaming device, or operating a gaming device, unless the individual is at least 18 and is employed by the provider of the gaming area or device (Sec. 8)

• Specifies that a violation of the provision above may result in fines owed by the individual and the gaming service provider (Secs. 3 & 8).

Full Bill Text