Hoping the state will cash in, but not everyone agrees. And today, both sides sound off. Among other changes to pennsylvania gaming laws, house bill 271 allows up to 40,000 slotlike gaming terminals, known as vgts, in bars, bowling alleys, and truck stops. The house of representatives passed the bill 102 to 89 with support from both republicans and democrats. With me now is Pennsylvania State representative maria donatucci, and state representative mark mustio joined us from harrisburg. So, lets start out, why support this bill . Whats in it for pennsylvanians . Mark mustio several years ago on the appropriations committee, we were tasked with finding nonbroadbased tax revenue for the state. And currently in pennsylvania, there are anywhere between 25,000 and 40,000 illegal poker machines. And other states have legalized video gaming terminals in bars, taverns, restaurants, and clubs, illinois being the most recent, and theyre generating approximately 350 million a year to their genera
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Members of Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board, whose responsibilities include meeting once or twice a month three times in busier months have among the highest-paid positions in state government, with annual salaries topping $145,000.
It’s one of the best jobs in town if you can get it. That is because former state legislators are frequently on the shortlist when there’s an opening.
Last week, Frank Dermody, the top House Democrat who lost reelection in 2020 after 30 years in the legislature, was appointed to a two-year term on the seven-member board.
Dermody, a onetime prosecutor and magisterial district judge from Allegheny County, is the fourth former House Democrat to snag a coveted spot since the board, which regulates casino gambling and sports betting in the state, was established in 2004.