Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB2075

Introduced

2/28/24

Refer

2/28/24

Caption

Providing for skill video gaming; imposing duties on the Department of Revenue; providing for issuance of licenses for skill video gaming; imposing a tax and criminal and civil penalties; and providing for zoning.

Impact

The proposed legislation carries substantial implications for state laws regarding gaming and gambling. It is expected to create a legal framework that legitimizes skill video gaming while ensuring that operators comply with strict licensing requirements. This would help eliminate unregulated and potentially unlawful gambling activities that have proliferated in the absence of clear regulations. Notably, the revenue generated from the tax on skill video gaming will also be allocated back to local governments and the state budget, supporting various public services and infrastructure.

Summary

House Bill 2075, known as the Skill Video Gaming Act, is aimed at regulating skill video game systems in Pennsylvania. The legislation provides comprehensive guidelines regarding the issuance of licenses for the operation of these gaming systems. It outlines the roles of the Department of Revenue in monitoring and enforcing compliance, which includes overseeing the manufacturing, distribution, and operation of skill video game systems. Provisions have been established for tax collection, with a tax rate set at 16% on the gross profits generated from skill video gaming operations. This significant tax revenue is intended to support state operations and local municipalities where the gaming terminals are placed.

Sentiment

Sentiment surrounding HB 2075 appears divided among lawmakers and stakeholders. Supporters emphasize the potential for increased tax revenue and the creation of a more structured and accountable gaming environment, which could promote economic development in the region. Conversely, critics express concerns about the societal implications of expanding gaming access and the potential for increased gambling-related issues. The absence of strong local controls is also a point of contention, with opponents advocating for community involvement in decisions about gaming establishments.

Contention

One of the main points of contention regarding HB 2075 lies in the balance between state regulation and local governance. While the bill aims to standardize the operation of skill video games, critics argue that it undermines local control over zoning and the placement of gaming terminals. Additionally, provisions that limit the local tax authority to impose additional taxes on skill video gaming operations may be seen as restrictive, raising concerns about the financial impacts on municipalities that may wish to charge local fees to fund community services.

Latest HB2075 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB626

PA SB706

PA HB1619

Providing for regulation of skill gaming; imposing duties on Department of Revenue; establishing a regulatory program within Department of Revenue governing skill gaming; providing for issuance of licenses; imposing criminal and civil penalties; and providing for zoning.

PA HB2520

Providing for nonbanking games; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs; and imposing penalties.

PA HB2551

Providing for nonbanking poker games; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs; and imposing penalties.

PA SB799

Relating to the operation of video gaming by authorized organizations and commercial operators that are licensed to conduct bingo or lease bingo premises; providing penalties; imposing fees.

PA SB1142

In revenues, further providing for establishment of State Gaming Fund and net slot machine revenue distribution; adding provisions relating to local gaming terminals by providing for general provisions, for application and licensure, for operation, for enforcement and for revenue; imposing the local gaming terminal tax; establishing the Local Gaming Fund; providing for ethics; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in Commonwealth services, establishing the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Programs Fund; prescribing penalties; and making appropriations.

PA SB756

In fantasy contests, further providing for definitions, for general and specific powers of board and for prohibitions; in general provisions relating to gaming, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions; in Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, further providing for Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board established, for general and specific powers, for license or permit application hearing process and public input hearings, for regulatory authority of board, for number of slot machines, for reports of board and for license or permit prohibition; in licensees, further providing for Category 4 slot machine license, for divestiture of disqualifying applicant, for manufacturer licenses, for gaming service provider, for nongaming service provider, for occupation permit application, for slot machine testing and certification standards, for slot machine accounting controls and audits and for renewals; in table games, further providing for regulatory authority and for table game device and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in interactive gaming, further providing for internal, administrative and accounting controls, for interactive games and interactive gaming devices and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in sports wagering, further providing for definitions; in revenues, further providing for slot machine licensee deposits and for transfers from State Gaming Fund; in administration and enforcement, repealing provisions relating to political influence, further providing for investigations and enforcement, for prohibited acts and penalties and for liquor licenses at licensed facilities; in fingerprinting, further providing for submission of fingerprints and photographs; in miscellaneous provisions relating to gaming, providing for live-streaming on casino floor and further providing for severability; in general provisions relating to video gaming, further providing for definitions; in administration, further providing for powers of board; in application and licensure, further providing for key employee licenses, for establishment licenses and for license or permit prohibition; in operation, further providing for video gaming limitations and for compulsive and problem gambling; in enforcement, further providing for prohibited acts and penalties; in revenues, further providing for fees; in ethics, repealing provisions relating to political influence; providing for skill gaming; establishing the Skill Gaming Fund; imposing duties on the Department of Revenue; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in forfeiture of assets, further providing for asset forfeiture; making appropriations; making repeals; and making editorial changes.

PA HB1141

In revenues, further providing for taxes and assessments; adding provisions relating to local gaming terminals by providing for general provisions, for administration, for application and licensure, for operation, for enforcement and for revenue; imposing the local gaming terminal tax; establishing the Local Gaming Fund; providing for ethics; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in Commonwealth services, establishing the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Programs Fund; prescribing penalties; and making appropriations.

PA SB570

Providing for End of Life Options Act; imposing duties on the Department of Health; and imposing penalties.

Similar Bills

PA SB706

PA SB626

VA SB212

Virginia Small Business Economic Development Act; established.

PA HB1619

MO SB1021

Authorizes the Video Lottery Control Act

MO SB16

Phases out the corporate income tax

PA SB688

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Liquor Stores, further providing for sales by Pennsylvania Liquor Stores; in licenses and regulations relating to liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for liquor importers' licenses, fees, privileges and restrictions, providing for ready-to-drink cocktail permit and for authority to acquire ready-to-drink cocktail permits and further providing for distributors' and importing distributors' restrictions on sales, storage, etc, for unlawful acts relative to malt or brewed beverages and licensees, for unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverages and licensees; and, in distilleries, wineries, bonded warehouses, bailees for hire and transporters for hire, further providing for limited distilleries and distilleries.

PA HB1750

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Liquor Stores, further providing for sales by Pennsylvania Liquor Stores; in licenses and regulations, liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for heading of article, for authority to issue liquor licenses to hotels, restaurants and clubs, for sales by liquor licensees and restrictions, for secondary service area, for sale of malt or brewed beverages by liquor licensees, for public service liquor licenses, for liquor importers' licenses, fees, privileges and restrictions, for public venue license, for performing arts facility license, for continuing care retirement community retail licenses, for casino liquor license, for malt and brewed beverages manufacturers', distributors' and importing distributors' licenses, for sales by manufacturers of malt or brewed beverages and minimum quantities and for distributors' and importing distributors' restrictions on sales, storage, etc; adding provisions relating to fees and taxation of ready-to-drink cocktails for off-premises consumption; and further providing for unlawful acts relative to malt or brewed beverages and licensees.