A discussion about the Pennsylvania gambling industry is going to open the National Council of Legislators For Gaming States summer meetings this July.
It’s fitting that the meetings will be held at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh in July, as prominent members of the Pennsylvania gambling industry are slated to be on the panel to discuss the industry.
NCLGS says Pennsylvania is an important gambling state
The NCLGS is kicking off the summer meetings deliberating about the intricacies of Pennsylvania gambling. The Keystone State offers a wide range of gambling that includes the following:
- Retail and online casinos
- Retail and online sports betting
- Horse racing
- Fantasy sports
- Lottery
- VGTs
Pennsylvania could also be joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), as Representative George Dunbar introduced a bill in March. That state would be involved in just about every gambling vertical.
It is also mulling the regulation of Pennsylvania skill games. Governor Josh Shapiro proposed a 42% tax on the machines in his upcoming fiscal year budget.
In an email sent to PlayPennsylvania, the NCLGS is looking at Pennsylvania as a premier gambling state, saying:
“Pennsylvania is one of the most sophisticated, diverse and important gaming states in the nation. So it only makes sense that some of the state’s top regulatory and political leaders will talk about the lessons they have learned at the NCLGS Summer Meeting in Pittsburgh.”
Prominent PA panelists on gambling discussion
There are going to be a number of important figures attending the NCLGS meetings this summer in Pittsburgh. The panel to open the conference is titled “Welcome to Pennsylvania!”
NCLGS President, Shawn Fluharty, also a West Virginia delegate, is the chair of the discussion. The four panelists include:
- Patrick Browne, Secretary of Revenue, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
- State Senator Jay Costa, Pennsylvania
- Kevin O’Toole, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Drew Svitko, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Lottery
Each member of the panel has an integral role in the Pennsylvania gambling market.
State Senator Jay Costa’s name might ring a bell. Costa and Allegheny County Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel co-sponsored a bill to ban smoking inside Pennsylvania casinos. The two did so in 2022, too, but the bill didn’t pass.
Current legislation is sitting on the House floor.
Why Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is a desirable location for large gatherings
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh playing host to an event as large as the NCLGS Summer Meetings is a big deal. The property became an even more attractive destination after opening The Landing Hotel in September 2022.
The hotel is 133,000 square feet and seven stories high, supplying 219 rooms. The project, which began in 2019, cost $60 million, and is connected to the casino. Steven Massaro, president of the construction company Massaro Corporation, spoke of the importance of the hotel in a 2021 press release:
“The literal connection of the two facilities is fundamental for integrating the casino’s gaming and entertainment complex with the new hospitality venue.”
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is likely to play host to more events in the future, now that it has lodging on the premises for out-of-town guests.
