A survey of 769 registered voters in the US state of Pennsylvania undertaken by the Bravo Group media relations agency has challenged the findings of an earlier poll by Sheldon Adelson’s Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, which had suggested that 73 per cent of Pennsylvanians “oppose internet gambling.”
Findings of the Bravo study, reportedly financed by Caesars Entertainment, countered that 66 per cent believe the state should tax online gambling in order to fund “vital state programmes,” while 58 per cent felt that online gambling should be legalised and regulated regardless of revenue direction.
The results of the Bravo study were published as the Adelson campaign mailed out flyers to Pennsylvania residents highlighting the findings of its survey.
Proposals to legalise real-money online poker in Pennsylvania are detailed in bill HB649, which is endorsed by state representative John Payne, chairman of the house gaming oversight committee, and currently being debated.
Under the plans, online gaming licences will only be available to existing holders of land-based casino licences in the state and players would have to be aged 21 to play online. The bill also includes a provision for pool-sharing agreements with like-minded US states.
