“One of the simple things we need to realize is that Internet gaming is here to stay, whether it is illegal or regulated.” “The online gambling experience in the states has been successful in the jurisdictions where it has been tried,” she said. Currently, Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey allow online gambling, and Blackhurst said it is working. Legalizing online gaming, as several bills currently under consideration by the committee would, can create a safer gambling experience by adding state regulation and consumer protections, Blackhurst testified. “It’s an environment that’s ripe for fraud and criminal activity and it provides no tax revenue.”
“Today’s reality is that Internet gambling is taking place in all 50 states, almost all of it illegally,” said Blackhurst, who flew in from Las Vegas for the hearing. Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of Caesars Entertainment Group, told the committee members that online gambling is already prevalent in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country, even though it isn’t legal. CHESTER > Casino executives offered testimony to the Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee during a hearing at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack Wednesday morning to provide insight into the possibility of online gaming coming to the state.
