Pennsylvania operators want state i-lottery activity shuttered

Pennsylvania’s land casino operators may have so far shunned the state government’s invitation to apply for online gambling licences at $10 million a pop (see previous reports) but they have been active in opposing the state lottery’s venture into online games.

In a letter to state Revenue Secretary C. Daniel Hassell Wednesday the operators requested that the state government suspend the new online lottery games, claiming they are a direct and illegal incursion into the nascent Pennsylvania online gambling market which they have yet to exploit themselves.

The operators have threatened to resort to legal action unless the state Department of Revenue (which has oversight on the Lottery) works collaboratively with them to develop “a lawful iLottery program” by July 3.

The publication Pennlive, which has seen a copy of the letter, reports that there is a conflict in that recent legislation has opened the state door to online games offered through licensed land casinos and contains language barring the Lottery from offering “games which simulate casino-style lottery games, specifically including roulette, poker, slot machines or black jack.”

The state government has not thus far responded.