Pennsylvania still waiting for online poker legislation

Pennsylvania continues with being the second largest gambling market in the United States, right behind the Silver State of Nevada. The online market could put Pennsylvania in the online poker market map, turning it into the most important gambling state in the US. Pennsylvania does not seem to have an approach to this issue and, therefore, there is no online poker regulation for the state yet. State Rep. John Payne was able to bring several online gambling bills in the Keystone State, and still believes that the online gambling market can be a reality one of these days: “Nothing is further from the truth. I think 54 percent is the high end. If 14 percent is too low, I am willing to negotiate”.

The Poker Players Alliance is pushing Pennsylvania and many other US states forward online gambling reforms. The situation in the country is not getting the market to any fruitful outcome due to many discrepancies between politicians and the US gambling market itself. David Licht, CEO of the All American Poker Network (AAPN), has been one of the main supporters of the Federal Online Poker legislation, first in the state of New York, and lately, in Pennsylvania, when he joined forces with Mount Airy Casino Resort, even when Pennsylvania’s legislation was still up in the air. The last hearing on online poker legislation has brought to the table several facts, but none of them is really showing any progress. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) stated: "The hearing on online poker licensing bill S. 5302 brought together many gaming interests. While a diverse group, they all shared the view that Internet poker would be good for New York consumers, operators, and the state. The testimony of MGM, Caesars, and Borgata, who ardently opposed the misguided notion that online poker would cannibalize land based operations, was also very impressive. This hearing was a terrific first step in setting the stage in the Empire State for 2016."