On Thursday, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing on the impact of internet gambling. The scheduled two-and-a-half hour hearing, which was streamed online, featured a variety of witnesses and panels spanning the gamut of our industry. Among the topics discussed were policy and regulatory issues, social impacts, problem gambling, industry services, and relevant technology.

Among those in attendance and serving as a witness on two panels was Poker Players AllianceExecutive Director John Pappas (pictured), who gave his thoughts on HB 1235, which would establish a regulatory framework for internet gaming in Pennsylvania. Pappas said in part during his testimony, “In order for Pennsylvania to remain competitive, and quite frankly relevant in gaming, the state must embrace internet opportunities. Now is the time for Pennsylvania to act.”

According to the PPA and a study from H2 Gambling Capital, a regulated online poker market in Pennsylvania could bring in $160 million in revenue in Year #1. For the entire internet gambling market, that number is $534 million.

Pappas added, “Today, in the US and in regulated markets throughout the world, it is required that internet gaming companies consent to audits, implementation of anti-money laundering compliance programs and multi-step identity verification processes, bot detection, and other regulatory measures. These operators employ ‘best of breed’ technologies that protect minors and problem gamblers, ensure that the games are fair, and that sites block players in prohibited jurisdictions.”

Pappas told PocketFives following the hearing, “It was 100% positive. All of the testimony delivered, even those witnesses who were concerned about problem gambling and other societal issues, said a regulated market is better than unregulated conditions. I don’t think it could have gone any better.”

Pennsylvania’s neighbor to the East, New Jersey, is one of three states that have regulated internet gambling, along with nearby Delawareand the Mecca of gambling: Nevada. When could Pennsylvania green-light internet gambling? Could we see a regulated market emerge in 2014? And what needs to happen in order for regulated poker to become a reality?

To that end, Pappas told us, “The impact of the hearing on the overall process has yet to be seen. It’s one of the first times there has been a public discussion in Pennsylvania about these issues. It was important that we didn’t get a lot of negative feedback from lawmakers who were there.”

“Pennsylvania is behind other states in terms of advancing bills,” the PPA Executive Director explained to PocketFives. “There isn’t a clear legislative vehicle to date. Next week, Pennsylvania officials are supposed to be releasing the results of an internet gambling impact study. From that, we will likely see things accelerate pretty quickly. It’s likely there will be a Senate bill introduced shortly thereafter.” The existing bill is in the House.

Visit PocketFives’ Pennsylvania poker community for the latest news and discussion from players in the Keystone State. We’ll continue to keep you posted on the latest poker legislation news right here on PocketFives.

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