Pennsylvania passes Anti RAWA Bill Hr140

Tuesday April 14,2015 :  PENNSYLVANIA ANTI-RAWA BILL HR140 PASSED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE (Update)

Symbolic victory urges law makers to reject RAWA ahead of hearing to legalise i-gaming

The Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee has passed HR140, a bill designed to counter the Restoration of the American Wire Act (RAWA) proposal.

HR140 was submitted by Representative John Payne, Chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee (see previous InfoPowa reports), earlier this year.

“A Federal prohibition against internet gaming would directly and negatively impact Pennsylvania by foreclosing the future potential of internet gaming to generate tax revenue, to create economic and employment opportunities, including high-tech software jobs, and to foster valuable business ventures for Pennsylvania casinos,” Payne wrote.

The passing of bill HR140, with a vote of 18 votes for and 8 against, comes just days before a scheduled hearing on Payne’s HB649 on Thursday this week, legalization that would authorise interactive gaming in Pennsylvania.

“The passage of this resolution sends a strong and clear message to the U.S. Congress that Pennsylvania has the right to make their own legislative decisions about licensing and regulating online poker without the partisan influence of  Washington politics,” commented John Pappas, Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance.