Pennsylvania online gambling legislative future looking shaky

Pennsylvania’s online gambling legislative hopes aren’t completely dead, but a queue of expectant undertakers has formed just outside the door.

Tuesday saw Pennsylvania’s state legislature conclude what was supposed to be its final day of sitting before the November 8 election, but no action was taken on the online gambling and daily fantasy sports bill the House of Representatives approved in June.

Late Tuesday, the state Senate approved quick-fix legislation to temporarily restore funding that local municipalities lost last month when the state Supreme Court struck down a local slots tax as unconstitutional. But the Senate declined to add online gambling language to this bill, which didn’t matter, since the House never got around to passing the Senate bill on Wednesday.

The House announced that it would reconvene at 9am on Thursday, leaving open the slim possibility for action on gaming issues. Barring that, the House has two remaining sessions scheduled for Nov. 14 & 15, while the Senate will meet on Nov. 16. But some state reps told local media that gaming wouldn’t come up for discussion until the next legislative session commences in January.