House Committee Looks at Table Games

A State House committee will turn its attention today to legalizing table games in Pennsylvania. The issue is gaining traction as lawmakers explore new revenue sources to lessen the need for tax hikes.
The House Gaming Oversight Committee will take a look at the logistical challenges of bringing table games to Pennsylvania casinos at a hearing today.
Committee Chair Dante Santoni, a Berks County Democrat, says he believes a table games bill would pass the General Assembly more easily than legislation legalizing video poker in bars, the topic the committee has focused on for most of this year’s session.

"Casinos are there, and the Gaming Control Board oversees them, and will take oversight over the table games issue. So I don’t think there are as many questions as to—a lot of the questions that we had regarding video lottery. So I do think it’s an easier sell, if there’s any such thing as an easy sell in the gaming world."

Minority Chair Curt Schroder, a Chester County Republican, says he’s frustrated the panel is turning to table games after focusing on video poker for most of the year.

"I believe we should be an oversight committee first, as our name states and implies, and not a committee that spends its time trying to figure out ways to expand the operation of gaming in the commonwealth."

Schroder says he wants to overhaul the Gaming Control Board before considering bills to expand gambling, though Santoni says table games could be voted on along with the budget.