Lawmakers Pass Pa. Table Games Bill
POSTED: 5:31 pm EST January 6, 2010
UPDATED: 6:20 pm EST January 6, 2010
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Lawmakers in Harrisburg have approved a bill that would legalize table games, such as poker and blackjack, at Pennsylvania casinos.
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the state House of Representatives voted 103-to-89 in favor of the bill. The Senate had approved it earlier. It now heads to Gov. Ed Rendell's desk.
The bill, which was agreed to in principle when the state's budget was approved in late October, is aimed at creating about $250 million in revenue for the state -- a chunk of money needed to fill a budget gap.
The legislation would also likely head off up to 1,000 state job furloughs that Gov. Ed Rendell had said would go into effect if the bill did not become law by this Friday.
Rendell has said he would sign the legislation.
What's In The Bill?
The law lets larger casinos install 250 tables for games such as poker and blackjack, while the smaller resorts casinos can have 50.
The bill contains several reform measures to address conflict of interest concerns regarding the Gaming Control Board. It also dictates a tax on profits from the games will first help balance the budget through the general fund. Once that gap has been filled, the money will be earmarked for property tax relief.
There is one provision that is gaining attention. That provision allows casinos to offer customers credit to gamble. That is something that has not been permitted previously.
"Before, if someone walked into the gaming parlor with their paycheck, that's all they could spend. Now they have a credit card essentially offered by the casino," said Republican Rep. Rob Kauffman.
"Certainly allowing them credit under poor judgment where they've been offered free alcohol and all kinds of other incentives to continue to gamble way beyond their means, its just unconscionable," said Republican Rep. Mauree Gingrich.
State gambling regulators say it'll be six months or longer before table games are up and running.
