Pennsylvania pols file anti-online gambling legislation

Pennsylvania’s online gambling aspirations got some pushback on Friday after state legislators filed a bill that would keep the state forever mired in the digital dark age.

Friday saw the filing of House Bill 801, aka the Banning Internet Gambling in Pennsylvania Act. The bill, filed by state Rep. Thomas Murt, was originally announced in January and has attracted four co-sponsors to date.

HB 801 would amend state law involving the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to ensure that the board “shall not promulgate rules and regulations allowing any form of internet gambling.”

The bill would also punish anyone caught offering online gambling services with fines of up to $300 for a first offense, $600 and three days in prison for a second offense, while further offenses would be considered a third degree misdemeanor, which carries the possibility of up to one year in jail and a $2k fine.