{"id":12440,"date":"2018-08-22T17:10:37","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T17:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=12440"},"modified":"2018-08-22T20:02:06","modified_gmt":"2018-08-22T20:02:06","slug":"pa-casinos-get-serious-file-lawsuit-against-pa-lottery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/pa-casinos-get-serious-file-lawsuit-against-pa-lottery\/","title":{"rendered":"PA Casinos Get Serious: File Lawsuit Against PA Lottery"},"content":{"rendered":"

A coalition of\u00a0seven\u00a0<\/strong>casinos in\u00a0Pennsylvania<\/strong> have started to take action against the\u00a0Pennsylvania<\/strong>\u00a0Lottery<\/strong> and its latest selection of online games.<\/p>\n

The group of casinos on\u00a0Wednesday<\/strong> filed suit in\u00a0Commonwealth Court<\/strong>, according to a release. The coalition, per the release, seeks an injunction<\/strong> to stop the PA Lottery from \u201cproviding illegal, simulated casino-style online games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specifically, the coalition notes that no customer under the age of 21<\/strong> is allowed to play at a physical or online casino, yet online lottery games, which mimic the casino slot machines currently, allow players as young as 18<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Listed as defendants in the suit are the\u00a0Pennsylvania Department of Revenue<\/strong> and its frontman,\u00a0Secretary C. Daniel Hassell<\/strong>, who oversees the department, which includes the PA Lottery.<\/p>\n

Coalition spokesman\u00a0David La Torre<\/strong>summed up the casino\u2019s side in the release:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe actions of the Pennsylvania Lottery are illegal. To make matters even worse, the agency is promoting casino-style gambling to teenagers. Pennsylvania casinos must follow very stringent regulations on underage gaming or face millions of dollars in fines. Meanwhile, the Lottery is openly violating the law and marketing these games to anyone as young as 18. Not to mention, any loss in casino revenue will hurt Pennsylvania\u2019s tax collection for property tax relief and local improvement projects funded by gaming tax dollars.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Following through with threat<\/h2>\n

Pennsylvania casinos first became enraged with the PA Lottery in\u00a0May<\/strong>, when it launched its\u00a0iLottery<\/strong> selection of games. Offered online and via the PA Lottery app, iLottery features casino-style games that \u201cgive the illusion that the player can make decisions, but the winners are predetermined,\u201d according to the coalition of casinos.<\/p>\n

The group of casinos sent a letter to\u00a0Gov. Tom Wolf<\/strong> asking him to shut down<\/strong> iLottery. The group reserved the right to take legal action<\/strong> if Wolf did not follow through. The governor did not, and the casinos are acting.<\/p>\n

The suit was filed and founded on\u00a0Act 42<\/strong> of the online gambling legislation\u00a0bill passed in\u00a02017<\/strong>. The coalition of casinos noted that a\u00a0$10 million<\/strong> fee is required to obtain slot machine licenses. Casinos then pay steep taxes:\u00a054 percent<\/strong> for interactive slots and\u00a016 percent<\/strong> for table games.<\/p>\n

From Wednesday\u2019s release:<\/p>\n

\u201cOn\u00a0May 22, 2018, with no regulatory oversight, the Pennsylvania Lottery launched \u2018iLottery,\u2019 offering illegal casino-style games online and on mobile devices.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What casinos are involved?<\/h2>\n

Not all of the state\u2019s\u00a013 casinos<\/strong> are listed as petitioners in the suit. Listed as part of the coalition:<\/p>\n