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With the Keystone State’s budget deficit continuing to grow, Pennsylvania lawmakers have started looking at new, alternative, means to increase the state’s coffers. One controversial aspect of the state’s budget is the legalizing –and hence licensing fees and taxation that go along with that—of casino table games, poker included.
Pennsylvania hitherto allowed only “slots” style casinos –I challenge you to find a more hypocritical action than allowing people to gamble on slot machines but not poker—but the current economic situation made the move to allow table games not only sensible, but necessary.
The new law allows Pennsylvania’s largest casinos to add up to 250 table games –Poker, Blackjack, Craps Baccarat, and Roulette—while smaller casinos would be limited to a maximum of 50 tables.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the bill on January 6th by a vote of 103-to-89, which is a fairly large margin for what is considered to be a very controversial issue --perhaps the issue of gambling is not as controversial as some would have us think? The only thing needed to sign the bill into law is Governor Ed Rendell’s signature, which he said he will provide, despite a few misgivings about the bill.
Pennsylvania residents will likely be waiting upwards of 6-months before they see table games at the local casinos, but lawmakers expect to make millions just from licensing sales, before the tax revenue starts rolling in.
Other states in the region considering including, or expanding, gambling are Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. And with almost every state allowing poker in some way, shape or form –in fact 32 of the 50 states allow for either Indian Casinos or Commercial Casinos—it doesn’t seem far-fetched to see casino gambling becoming legal across the board in the United States. Especially when you consider it wasn’t very long ago that the only Nevada and New Jersey offered legalized gambling –with a handful of other areas allowing card-games of skill.
Some states have even taken this a step further by putting legalized online poker on the ballots, as yet another way to increase revenue: California being the most high profile example of this, not only for its size, but also its huge budget deficit. California is also one of the states that have allowed card-rooms for many years.
Massachusetts has also tossed around the idea, but the measure to legalize online poker was too late in coming to being included on a special ballot. Massachusetts is another state looking to bring-in casinos, with a bill that would allow upwards of three Las Vegas style casinos to operate in the state currently on the agenda.
Another aspect of the new law is the effect it will have on surrounding states that currently offer casino games, most notably nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey. With states like New Jersey relying on their casino revenue to help balance the books the hope is the new Pennsylvania law will bring in new gamblers. Although, the competition should offer casino patrons even greater incentives –better payout on slot machines, bigger and better promotions, and jackpots. |
