It's Official -- Pennsylvania Lawmakers Pass Poker BillState May Host Poker Games in as Soon as Six Months |
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Spurred on by a threat from the governor that he would have to cut state jobs by the end of this week if the legislature did not act, the Pennsylvania Senate and House finally came to an agreement yesterday to pass a bill that officially legalizes table games, including poker, in the state. Governor Ed Rendell signed the legislation into law today.
The chambers had all but consented to the addition of table games in October, when the House and the Senate approved a state budget that allotted funds that were created by the new table games. There was only one significant problem – they hadn’t actually legalized the table games yet.
After months of wrangling over the details — concerning how many tables a casino should be allowed to have (answer: 250 in stand-alone casinos, 50 in smaller resort casinos), whether or not consumers should be allowed casino credit (answer: they will be, despite some conservative criticism), and just how much it should tax the new table games (answer: 14 percent in the first year, 12 percent in the second year) — the House approved the hotly contested bill just after 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, 103-89.
The Senate had approved the bill, 28-22, late on Tuesday.
State Republicans, who hold the majority in the state senate, originally opposed the expansion of gambling in the state, but switched their position upon growing concern over the financial realities of the state.
“If we were in a surplus situation, this discussion would not be happening,” the Republican senate majority leader Dominic Pileggi told The Morning Call newspaper. “We have an historic crisis in our economy … we need to look to find revenue.”
The new table games are expected to raise about $640 million in taxes over the next two years.
Poker, blackjack, craps, and other table games will all be allowed under the new legislation. Companies will begin applying for licenses soon, but the games will not likely start for six to eight months.
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Comments
WayneBullet
over 12 years ago
I guess one thing comes out of bad economies, we are allowed to have personal freedoms given to us. Who would have thought.
sandt
over 12 years ago
thank god, i have been commuting to atlantic city 4x a month 2.5 hours each way. now i can play poker and only have to drive 45 min.
onecardsal
over 12 years ago
Now I hope Massachusetts does the same. I hope the plan to put a resort casino in Mass is near Boston(Suffolk Downs). You can fly right into Logan Airport, one mile up the street you're in the casino.
Come Massachusetts , wake up and smell the coffee.
Diplomat
over 12 years ago
if this can cut half my travel time to atlantic city then i'll be very happy.
Drummerboy79
over 12 years ago
Fantastic, now I'll have a poker room at the casion 15 minutes from my house.
Quiks3817
over 12 years ago
I have been in the same boat commuting over 2 hours to AC every month. Harrah's Chester is only about an hour or so from Baltimore, so if the games are good I think I will be heading there a lot more often. Anyone want to try and organize a game there when the tables actually come to the casinos?
james.louvier
over 12 years ago
I keep hearing rumors from workers at Presque Isle Downs saying that they are not going to have Hold'em or any tournaments/ring games. Only Pai Gow and 3 card poker and things of this sort. Can any one confirm or deny this?
Drummerboy79
over 12 years ago
Well I'm fifteen minutes from Grantville, PA and the Hollywood Casino which is supposed to have a poker room added by late summer. Anyone else near there too?