PA, MI file sports betting bills, New Jersey pays legal bills

Pennsylvania and Michigan have joined the list of states angling for legal sports betting while leaving the heavy lifting up to New Jersey.

On Monday, Pennsylvania State Rep. Robert Matzie announced his intention to introduce legislation in the near future that would allow the state’s licensed gaming facilities to add sports betting to their palette of wagering options.

However, Matzie’s legislation won’t actually challenge the legality of the federal government’s PASPA sports betting prohibition. Instead, Matzie intends to simply ask his fellow legislators to agree to the concept in principle, then be “ready to act” if New Jersey’s legal quest to topple PASPA proves successful.

Matzie’s bill follows another ‘me too’ sports betting bill that Michigan Rep. Robert Kosowski introduced last week. Kosowski’s HB 4060 is a repeat effort from the previous legislative session that would amend the state’s gaming laws to permit licensed casino operators to offer sports wagering, assuming voters approve via a referendum.