Pennsylvania gambling expansion has become a point that is focal Harrisburg for greater than a year, but late Wednesday night, the state’s home of Representatives finally took action on the matter. The manner in which they did so, however, is being criticized by some lawmakers.

Morning, House Bill 271 was introduced by State Rep. Jason Ortitay (Allegheny County) and co-sponsored by six other Republicans and one Democrat yesterday.

The measure seeks to greatly expand gambling in the Keystone State. HB 271 would place slot machines in airports and bars, authorize online casinos and daily fantasy sports (DFS), allow the lottery to sell internet instant tickets, and create sports gambling laws in anticipation of any change to the existing federal ban.

The all-encompassing piece of legislation would leave no already legal gambling option unaddressed, as far as where it can happen at almost 700 pages. It’s no easy read, but just hours after its introduction, Republican House majority leaders ushered it in for the vote.

In the final end, it passed narrowly, by a count of 102-89, with help mixed across party lines.

‘ If you’ve all had the chance to read it, I don’t know how you made it happen,’ was the wry observation from Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery).

Pay So That They Can Play

Ortitay’s bill would allow any establishment holding an alcohol permit to accommodate slot devices. Each bar, hotel, restaurant, or club that is fraternal be allowed to have as much as five gaming terminals, with truck stops being permitted ten. Off-track parlors that are betting encompass 250 slot machines for the fee of $5 million.

Pennsylvania’s robust state-run lottery, which offered over $4 billion worth of tickets in 2016, would also move a lot more of its operations to the internet. Online lottery games, and instant and raffle tickets, would expand their offerings.

Airports terminals is able to offer slots to passengers, recreations betting would be considered legal (if Congress ever overturns the federal ban), and DFS operators could be online after paying a $50,000 cost to Pennsylvania.

Local Share Income Tax

Perhaps most importantly, HB 271 addresses the ongoing problem with the state’s casino share assessment that is local. Each venue is required by that rule to spend its host municipality $10 million annually. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared the tax unconstitutional, as it ruled the $10 million payment, or two percent of gross slot machine game revenue, whichever is greater, violated uniformity law.

Under Ortitay’s bill, the state’s largest gambling enterprises, Sands Bethlehem and Parx, would be required to pay two percent of gross slot income to the host county, and a flat $10 million to the host municipality. Resorts with reduced revenue pulls would spend just the two tariff that is percent.

Resolving the local share income tax is perhaps the main reason Republican leaders rushed HB 271 to a vote on Wednesday, as it provides critical funds to regional governments.

It is not clear whether the larger chamber will help the Pennsylvania that is enormous gambling bill, or if Governor Tom Wolf (D) would even signal it, should it achieve their desk.

The Keystone State needs money to cover down its burgeoning pension debt. Putting slot machines in bars and restaurants across from schools and churches is the solution, at least based on those that voted to approve the measure on Wednesday.