Legislative language approving multiple forms of online gambling, including both online poker and daily fantasy sports, has cleared the Pennsylvania State Assembly, moving on to consideration by the state’s full Senate body in the coming days.  If also approved there, the online-gambling regulatory package could be signed into law in the coming weeks by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.

The language calling for the approval of online-gambling services in Pennsylvania passed the Senate by a 115-80 vote after being introduced and adopted as an amendment to the state’s omnibus budget measure, which as many political observers noted, represented the likeliest avenue for approval.

The online gambling amendment carries essentially the same language as the John Payne’s independent HB 649  measure, which was given the kibosh a month ago when rival pro-gambling routes representing the state’s tavern industry successfully muddied the issue by attempting to insert a legislative “poison pill,” the possible legalization of video gaming terminals (VGTs) in the commonwealth’s bars.

That group attempted to do the same thing here, in an attempt to again attach the VGT debate to the online-gambling and DFS issues.  Let’s use the words of Poker Player Alliance VP Rich Muny to describe what happened next.  Said Muny:

“In Pennsylvania, the legislative fight centered on adding an online poker amendment to HR 2150, a broader gaming bill that also includes daily fantasy sports. Just two weeks prior, a proposed iPoker amendment stalled over an unrelated proposal to allow bars and certain nonprofit social clubs to operate VGTs (video gaming terminals…essentially slot machines) on their premises.

“On Wednesday, in a dramatic vote, a proposed amendment that would authorize VGTs along with online poker and other forms of online betting went down to defeat by a vote of 116-79. After a short recess, state Representative Rosita Youngblood proposed a new amendment authorizing online poker and other forms of online gaming, but without the controversial VGT measure. The Youngblood amendment passed the full House 115-80.”

As noted, the full bill was approved, and, having been pitched as a revenue-generating measure for a state sorely in need of cash infusions, the bill is rated as having a good chance of passing the Senate as well.

The PPA remains as closely involved in the Pennsylvania process as it has in any individual state, also noting that though the online-poker licenses would be available only to the state’s land-based casino properties, as least to of them remain opposed to the possible online expansion.  Those two are the Parx Casino outside of Philadelphia and — naturally — the Sands Bethlehem facility owned and operated by Las Vegas Sands Corporation and anti-online-gambling billionaire Sheldon Adelson.

Though Adelson, in particular, was able to “obtain” the cooperation of several legislators in several districts near the Bethlehem casino, he was still unable to stop the online-gambling legislation’s progress to date.

On the flip side, the PPA lost no time in congratulating Pennsylvania’s Assembly on approving the online poker amendment.  Said PPA Executive Director John Pappas, “It is about time – this legislation is long overdue! Pennsylvanians deserve robust consumer protections and today the Pennsylvania House delivered.  Additionally, this legislation will create jobs and help the Commonwealth close its budget gap. This commonsense legislation is a win-win for Pennsylvania. The online poker community urges the Senate and Governor Wolf to act swiftly to approve this measure.”

A PPA presser bragged a bit on the topic, noting, “Long a supporter of regulated online poker in the Commonwealth, the PPA advocated in support of this legislation and urged its members to raise their voices within the state. As a result, PPA’s members reached out thousands of times via the media, social media, and direct emails and phone calls to the state’s lawmakers urging them to pass this bill. [The] vote marks a critical milestone in our efforts to pass legislation which protects consumers online and provides a fair platform for players to enjoy the game of poker online.”

“Today’s vote is a great step forward not just for our members, but for all Pennsylvanians,” added Pappas.  “It is time that this legislation be made into law so all of the state’s residents can benefit from online consumer protections.”