Rep. Guy Reschenthaler: Gaming is good for Pa. economy
Share this post:
Covid-19 devastated Pennsylvania, shutting our state down for months. Our economy felt the impact, contracting by $32 billion. The road to recovery has not been easy, but thankfully, the Keystone State is back on the rebound. Part of this is due to obvious factors, like stores reopening and people returning to work. Another key factor driving Pennsylvania’s recovery is the state’s commercial gaming industry.
Pennsylvania is home to 13 casinos, legal sports betting and iGaming, offering residents more than just entertainment. In our state, gaming’s economic impact totals $6.34 billion and supports more than 33,000 jobs.
Gaming’s contributions go beyond jobs and our economy in ways you may not realize. Gaming generates important tax revenue that is reinvested to reduce school taxes paid by property owners, with additional allocations for law enforcement grants, responsible gaming programs, and our economic development and tourism fund. Through August, gaming revenue in Pennsylvania reached $3.1 billion, generating $1.24 billion in tax revenue that directly improves life in our communities.
When Pennsylvania’s gaming industry is thriving, so are the state’s economy and communities. And to keep the industry strong, we must prioritize responsible gaming.
This week, Sept. 19-25, is the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Gaming Education Week, which is a time dedicated to educating Pennsylvanians on responsible game play and its central role in the casino industry.
The industry invests millions of dollars in responsible gaming education and research, dedicates employee time to training, and works with gaming regulators to protect consumers and promote responsible gaming every day.
Since the legalization of sports betting in Pennsylvania in 2018, Pennsylvanians now have a legal way to wager on sports, both at sportsbooks and on their mobile devices. This expansion of gaming is a smart way to ensure Pennsylvanians can engage with our favorite teams while playing safely with regulated operators rather than with the predatory illegal market.
As more people return to Pennsylvania’s casinos in person and enjoy the benefits of legal sports betting and iGaming, it is more important than ever to emphasize responsible gaming and share resources that ensure gaming remains a fun activity for consumers to enjoy with friends, family and colleagues.
Gaming’s continued growth — whether at brick-and-mortar casinos, sports betting, or online — is good for our economy and communities. Let’s all do our part to keep it that way.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler represents Pennsylvania’s 14th District. He is co-chair, with Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., of the Congressional Gaming Caucus, a bipartisan group of more than 30 members of Congress from across the country convened to discuss federal policy issues related to the U.S. casino industry and educate congressional colleagues on related regulatory and legislative matters.