PRINTER'S NO. 2665
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
619
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, KOTIK, YOUNGBLOOD, DUNBAR, READSHAW,
MUSTIO, D. COSTA, GIBBONS, MAHONEY, WARNER, DONATUCCI,
SCHWEYER, COHEN, FLYNN, NEILSON AND McNEILL,
DECEMBER 14, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, DECEMBER 14, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to lift the Federal ban
on sports betting and to allow states that authorize, license
and regulate casino gaming, including the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, to legalize sports betting through its licensed
facilities.
WHEREAS, In 1992, Congress enacted the Federal Professional
and Amateur Sports Protection Act (28 U.S.C. ยง 3701 et seq.),
establishing a general prohibition on sports betting in the
United States and prohibiting state and local governments from
authorizing sports betting; and
WHEREAS, Section 3702 of the Professional and Amateur Sports
Protection Act specifically provides that it is unlawful for "a
governmental entity to sponsor, operate, advertise, promote,
license, or authorize by law or compact...a lottery,
sweepstakes, or other betting, gambling, or wagering scheme
based, directly or indirectly...on one or more competitive games
in which amateur or professional athletes participate, or are
intended to participate, or on one or more performances of such
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athletes in such games"; and
WHEREAS, Even amid strong Federal laws banning sports betting
in the United States, reports highlight that illegal sports
betting is widespread and is considered the number one form of
gambling among American residents; and
WHEREAS, According to a 2008 report conducted for the
National Basketball Association's Board of Governors, some
estimates have the total volume of sports betting in the United
States at $325 to $400 billion, with less than 1% of betting
taking place in legal form; and
WHEREAS, The proliferation of fantasy sports betting,
primarily daily fantasy sports contests played through Internet
websites, has become a household occurrence, with the Fantasy
Sports Trade Association estimating that 56.8 million people
play fantasy sports and bet an average of $465 a year on fantasy
games in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Fantasy sports betting, primarily through Internet
websites, blurs the lines with regard to sports betting in
general, and the Federal Government has left the determination
of the legality and regulation of fantasy sports to states; and
WHEREAS, In order to protect the public and ensure the
integrity of not only professional sports but the Commonwealth's
current licensed gaming industry, the Federal Government must
adapt to changing perceptions of sports betting and allow states
that offer legal forms of gaming to decide if licensing and
regulating sports betting is in the best interest of its
residents; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth would also benefit financially
from lifting the Federal ban on sports betting as increased
revenues would be generated and numerous jobs would be created
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for residents of this Commonwealth as a result of sports betting
activities at licensed facilities across this Commonwealth,
further enhancing tourism and economic growth; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania recognizes the significance that legalizing and
regulating sports betting would have on the Commonwealth and
maintains that policies relating to licensed gaming should be
decided by the states; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to lift the Federal ban on sports betting and allow
states that authorize, license and regulate casino gaming,
including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to legalize sports
betting through its licensed facilities.
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