The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) Summer Meeting is scheduled for July 17-20, 2024 at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. The NCLGS is the only US organization composed of state lawmakers getting together regularly to discuss gambling industry issues. While the body is neither in favor of gambling nor against it, it is committed to the proper regulation of the industry.
The “Welcome to Pennsylvania!” panel will review the local gambling industry’s progress and will be attended by distinguished figures from the sector. Shawn Fluharty, NCLGS President and West Virginia State Delegate will chair the discussion.
The four panelists will be State Senator Jay Costa, Kevin O’Toole, Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Drew Svitko, Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Lottery, and Patrick Browne, Secretary of Revenue at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
As the official website of the organization explains, the council will be mainly focused on helping “lawmakers keep pace with advancing technology and an ever-changing gaming environment” through an exchange of information and educational resources.
Pennsylvania Could Join The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement
The July meetings of the NCLGS will commence with discussions regarding Pennsylvania’s gambling industry. Beyond the assessments of the available gambling products, the discussions will be focused on the possibility of Pennsylvania joining the Multi-State Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
The beginning of March saw Rep. George Dunbar’s introduction of House Bill 2078 to the Pennsylvania legislature. The piece of legislation concerns the state joining the MSIGA for online poker players.
If the bill passes and the application gets accepted, this would mean good news for the gambling industry in the state, with a new addition to the line of authorized gaming products. The state’s involvement with this organization will be under the monitoring of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Pennsylvania would be the newest member of the MSIGA, composed of another 24 states, including California, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia. The regulation of skill-based games will be yet another topic of discussion by the NCLGS.
“As NCLGS makes a stop in Pittsburgh this summer, Pennsylvania can lay claim to being one of the most sophisticated, diverse, and important gaming states in the nation”, is what the Summer Meeting Agenda says about the Keystone State. It also mentions the diversity of gaming verticals available, including land-based gaming venues, horse racing, retail lottery, and iGaming.
The main regulatory and political figures in Pennsylvania will be expected to discuss the gambling landscape in the state, and, most importantly, as the agenda states, “lessons learned while implementing these many verticals of gaming.”
Effective Consumer Protection in a Virtual World, the Economic Impact of the Horse Industry, and the Future of the Ever-Evolving Lottery will be among the other important topics of discussion during the summer meeting of the organization.
