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Pa. House eyes new vote to expand gambling to internet, bars

LONDON - JULY 27: A woman looks at a casino website on July 27, 2004 in London. Internet gambling websites should introduce age-verification checks to prevent children from betting online, NCH (a children's charity) urged on Tuesday. The call by NCH came after it found that a 16-year-old girl was able to register with 30 gambling sites after lying about her age. (Photo iillustration by Graeme Robertson/Getty Images).

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania House Republicans are counting votes to see whether there is enough support to revive legislation to expand casino-style gambling to airports, bars, off-track betting parlors and casino-run websites.

Republicans said Wednesday that another floor vote could happen next week. The legislation was defeated last month.

Republicans tout the legislation as a way to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new gambling taxes to help plug a state government budget deficit without raising taxes.

The legislation would make Pennsylvania the fourth state to allow online casino-style gambling, while allowing Pennsylvania's casinos to station slot machines at six international airports and some of the state's 10 licensed off-track betting parlors.

One provision would allow gambling on video terminals at bars and other locations. Prospects in the Senate are unclear.

Associated Press

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