In the Commonweath of Pennsylvania, anti-gaming forces are getting on the
bandwagon for internet gambling prohibition. Pennsylvania is the home state
of Michael Simone of Interactive Gaming Communications Corp. fame....the man
who's the quarry of Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon on both civil and
criminal charges related to internet gambling. Perhaps that's why the topic
is now on the radar screen with the Commonweath's legislative body.
This week, one bill (House bill 2271) was filed by Rep. Tom Gannon who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The bill is, of course, supported by the
Pennsylvania Attorney General.
But Rep. Gordon is not alone. Another representative, Paul Climer, is
expected to file a second similar bill on March 18, '98. This gentleman is
well known in Pennsylvania circles as being rabidly anti-gaming. In recent
attempts in the state to have any sort of gambling expansion, this
representative is front and center to keep the forces of gambling to the limit
they are now.
Sources say the Gannon bill targets only the operators and not the casual
bettor. IGN is obtaining a copy of the bill to determine how they deal with
such issues as enforcement.
It will be most interesting to see how the parimutuel industry in the state
handles the news of this bill. Some Pennsylvania tracks are among the most
vocal in attempts to allow tracks and OTBs to take internet wagers as an
extension of the telephone wagering which has existed there for a number of
years.
Stay tuned to IGN for the details of the Pennsylvania bills.