It´s official - Pennsylvania online gambling legalisation on hold until autumn

The political impasse on the Pennsylvanian budget appears to have been (sort of) resolved, with local media reports noting that lawmakers have now gone back to their constituencies until September, after which they will re-assemble for a shorter session due to the election year.

The state governor and the legislature appear to have reached an accommodation, allowing the budget funding bill, which included online gambling as part of an expansion in state gambling, to go through in support of the unsigned and unvetoed $31.5 billion budget itself.

Lawmakers will finalise the contents of the funding bill and how to close a $1.3 billion deficit gap when they return in September.

The state House has already backed the online gambling proposal, along with other gambling expansion moves designed to raise tax revenues, but the state Senate may make changes in its own bill.

Wednesday’s decisions on the compromise funding bill came after days of intense debate and negotiating by politicians and the governor, with the House voting 116-75 in favour; and the Senate 28-22.

Long story short – online gambling legalisation in Pennsylvania is not a done deal yet.