http://www.timesonline.com/news/201...rs-want-sports-betting-in-time-for-nfl-season
Pennsylvania casinos will pay a $10 million licensing fee for sports betting and 34 percent tax on revenues, said state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, of Bensalem.
Wanna bet the Eagles can win the Super Bowl two years in a row?
You might be able to do that — legally.
Legal betting on sports games is coming to Pennsylvania and could be available at state-licensed casinos before the start of NFL season, state lawmakers predicted.
Already licensed for slots and table games, Pennsylvania casinos could pay an additional $10 million to host sports betting operations, said state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, of Bensalem. In 2004, Tomlinson was an architect of legislation that initially brought slot machines to state racetracks, such as what’s now Parx Casino and Racetrack in Bensalem, Bucks County.
“You can’t stop the sports betting,” Tomlinson said Thursday. “But I don’t expect a lot of money from this.”
Pennsylvania already has become dependent on gambling revenues.
Last year, Pennsylvania’s 25,841 slot machines had gross terminal revenues estimated at $1.9 billion, with $663 million (or 34 percent) of that cash going to the state, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Pennsylvania casinos were operating another 1,265 table games, which generated $746 million in revenues with $105 million (or 14 percent) going to Harrisburg and the communities in which the casinos are located, according to the state.
Pennsylvania Rep. Frank Farry, R-142, believes revenues from sports betting can help balance the state budget next year. “I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t hustle. It’s a revenue opportunity for the state,” said Farry, of Langhorne, Bucks County. “I would bet that we get this done before the NFL season.”
Pennsylvania casinos will pay a $10 million licensing fee for sports betting and 34 percent tax on revenues, said state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, of Bensalem.
Wanna bet the Eagles can win the Super Bowl two years in a row?
You might be able to do that — legally.
Legal betting on sports games is coming to Pennsylvania and could be available at state-licensed casinos before the start of NFL season, state lawmakers predicted.
Already licensed for slots and table games, Pennsylvania casinos could pay an additional $10 million to host sports betting operations, said state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, of Bensalem. In 2004, Tomlinson was an architect of legislation that initially brought slot machines to state racetracks, such as what’s now Parx Casino and Racetrack in Bensalem, Bucks County.
“You can’t stop the sports betting,” Tomlinson said Thursday. “But I don’t expect a lot of money from this.”
Pennsylvania already has become dependent on gambling revenues.
Last year, Pennsylvania’s 25,841 slot machines had gross terminal revenues estimated at $1.9 billion, with $663 million (or 34 percent) of that cash going to the state, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Pennsylvania casinos were operating another 1,265 table games, which generated $746 million in revenues with $105 million (or 14 percent) going to Harrisburg and the communities in which the casinos are located, according to the state.
Pennsylvania Rep. Frank Farry, R-142, believes revenues from sports betting can help balance the state budget next year. “I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t hustle. It’s a revenue opportunity for the state,” said Farry, of Langhorne, Bucks County. “I would bet that we get this done before the NFL season.”