The Legalization of Sports Betting in Pennsylvania: How Did It Happen?
Anyone who lives around Philadelphia knows how important sport is to the city.
Whether you prefer to cheer on the Eagles or the Flyers, sport is something that brings everyone together.
This is true across the whole of Pennsylvania, and sport plays a crucial role in how people relax or have fun.
It is not just watching sports that people around Philly and the rest of Pennsylvania love to do. Sports betting is pretty big and fans enjoy putting their money down to back their favorite team and maybe win a big payout. Many may now be looking at the chances of the 76ers making next year’s NBA Finals and wondering whether to put some money on them. The decision by state lawmakers to make sports betting legal in Pennsylvania was a major deal for residents – anyone who lives in Philadelphia is now perfectly entitled under state law to bet on the sport of their choice.
But, how did this all come about?
US Supreme Court strikes PASPA down
The story of the legalization in Pennsylvania starts with a challenge to the 1992 PASPA Act by New Jersey. This outdated law had essentially made sports betting illegal in most US states before New Jersey decided to take it to the SCOTUS. Their historic ruling in 2018 saw PASPA defined as unconstitutional and thus repealed. But what did this actually mean?
In short, it removed any federal hurdles for states around legalizing sports betting. This meant that each state in the USA could make its own decision on whether to make betting on sports legal within its own borders.
Although this ruling happened in May 2018, Pennsylvania had been preparing for it in advance. State officials had already passed a 2017 bill in the General Assembly, which made plans for legal sports betting. Once PASPA had been struck off the legislature, Pennsylvania’s 2017 sports betting bill could come into effect.
This action made Pennsylvania the seventh US state to legalize sports betting. The bill set out just how sports betting in the Keystone State would work, from how old you have to be to place a bet to what sports you can bet on. It also set out the law in relation to how sportsbooks would be regulated and operate in Pennsylvania. This included details such as operators having to pay a $10,000,000 fee to gain a license and be subject to a 36% tax on any revenue.
November 2018 Was a Historic Time for Sports Fans in Philly
Photo: pasportsbooks.com
Of course, the wheels of power do not always move quickly! This meant that it was November 2018 by the time sports betting became officially legal in Pennsylvania, and Grantville’s Hollywood Casino accepted the first lawful sports bet in the state.
Since then, multiple casinos around the state have applied to operate a sportsbook and accept bets on sport. Philadelphia is well stocked in this regard and has about six land-based sportsbooks to gamble at.
May 2019 Saw the Next Leap Forward
The next big change around legislation for sports betting in Pennsylvania came in May 2019. This saw the initial batch of online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps being launched. Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino (now rebranded and transitioned to Rivers Casino Philadelphia) led the way here and has a betting app for sports, which is legal to use. Although online sportsbooks do have to be partnered with a land-based casino to operate, you do not have to sign up in person with them.
All of these changes and ongoing regulatory checks are dealt with by Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board. This body works hard to ensure all operators meet their legal requirements and sports bettors are kept safe.
A Long and Winding Road to Legality
When you look back at the road to the legalization of sports betting in Pennsylvania, it did not happen overnight. We have already noted that work had been underway since 2017 by lawmakers to prepare for this. This work can be traced even further back to 2015, though, when Rick Kotik confirmed his intention to fight for legal sports betting in the state.
Subsequent campaigning in Congress to overturn PASPA was key and certainly helped when the Supreme Court were making their decision in 2018.
With mobile betting now set to really take off in the state, many believe that legal sports betting is something that will continue to flourish.
Of course, if you are a sports fan in Philly, you may well agree!
Featured Image: pasportsbooks.com
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