Pennsylvania third online gambling bill; California tribal consensus a mirage?

Pennsylvania got a new online gambling bill on Monday, the third such bill vying for votes in the current legislative session.

HB 920 (read it here) was filed by Rep. Tina Davis (pictured), who in 2013 authored a similar measure which ultimately failed to make it past the committee stage. Davis has a seat on the House Committee on Gaming Oversight, which is set to hold online gambling hearings on April 16 and May 6.

HB 920 is similar to Davis’ previous effort in that it would allow not just poker but also slots, table games and any other activity deemed appropriate by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, with the exception of lottery games, bingo, keno, pari-mutuel betting and ‘small games of chance.’

HB 920 would reserve online gambling licenses for companies already licensed to operate slot machines and table games in the state. Licensees would have to pay a one-time authorization fee of $5m, with annual renewal fees of $500k.