Pennsylvania Lawmakers Question Private Meeting Between Gambling Regulators and Lobbyists

Two lawmakers are calling for an investigation into a private meeting between Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) officials and casino lobbyists. There was no disclosure of this meeting on public logs, as is necessary under the PGCB’s ethics rules.

Representative Jared Solomon and Senator Gene Yaw called on the state Ethics Commission and the state attorney general’s office to review the matter. In his letter to the Ethics Commission, Senator Solomon said: “The people of Pennsylvania must have confidence that the regulatory bodies established by the Legislature are acting in good faith and following the law.”

The private meeting reportedly involved lobbyists for Parx Casino, the biggest casino in the state. PGCB lawyers previously claimed that this meeting did not meet the definition of one that needed public disclosure.

attempting to persuade the PGCB to change its hands-off attitude about skill games

The lobbyists were attempting to persuade the PGCB to change its hands-off attitude about skill games. These types of games are similar to slot machines and are found across Pennsylvania in gas stations, restaurants, and other locations.

They are not under the board’s regulation and are not subject to the higher tax rates of casino slot machines. Many lobbyists argue that these skill games are illegal forms of gambling and that lawmakers should ban them.