As if there isn’t enough sports betting in Pennsylvania already, a Keystone state legislator wants to add Esports to this already extensive sports wagering menu.
House Bill 733 (HB 733) is being introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly by State Rep. Ed Neilson, a Democrat from Philadelphia. Neilson has found supporters and is eager to reform the state’s gaming laws by adding Esports.
Why Add Esports to the Pennsylvania Sports Betting Lineup?
Neilson presents a few significant points in favor of embracing Esports:
- Esports betting is legal in neighboring states to Pennsylvania.
- The predicted value of the Esports sector in 2022 was $1.1 billion, and it might approach $5 billion by 2029.
- In Philadelphia, a multimillion-dollar Esports facility (Fusion Arena) is being built, which might host various events.
Neilson also stated that he was seeking co-sponsors for the measure that he was preparing to introduce. Here is part of a memo he wrote to his colleagues back in January:
“I believe Pennsylvania should quickly add Esports to our gaming portfolio, bolstering our economy and the attendant tax revenue. Therefore, I am introducing legislation to legalize betting on Esports in Pennsylvania,” he said.
What Are Esports?
Esports (short for electronic sports) are competitive video gaming competitions where professional players or teams compete against each other in organized events. Esports can include various games, such as first-person shooters, real-time strategy games, sports games, and fighting games.
HB733 defines esports as “A competition involving video games in which players who are 18 years of age or older compete against each other and the dominant element determining the results is the relative skill of the players.”
Esports competitions can occur online or in person in large stadiums and are often streamed live on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. Esports games have become increasingly popular in recent years and have even become recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee.
What HB 733 Would Allow
Pennsylvanians would be able to gamble on esports events under this measure. The Keystone State recommends a 36% tax rate, which could vary during the legislative process.
Anyone who wants to gamble in an esports tournament will have to be at least 21 years old, but competitors only have to be 18 years old.
Esports Would Be Added to an Extensive Sports Betting List
In Pennsylvania, you can legally bet on a variety of sports. Some of the sports that you can bet on in Pennsylvania include:
- Football (both professional and college)
- Basketball (both professional and college)
- Baseball (both professional and college)
- Hockey (both professional and college)
- Soccer (both professional and international)
- Tennis (both professional and international)
- Golf (both professional and international)
- Boxing and MMA
- Horse racing
- Motorsports
Pennsylvania has a well-established sports betting industry with a range of legal online sportsbooks and retail sportsbooks available throughout the state. However, according to Gamingtoday.com, Pennsylvania prohibits prop bets on the performances of individual college players.
The Future of Esports Betting in Pennsylvania
There are currently no meetings scheduled in the House Gaming Oversight Committee for the bill to move forward, but that is expected to change. Why? The legalization of esports betting would round out Pennsylvania’s online gambling market. Online sports betting, casino games, poker, and esports would all be available to residents of the state. The only thing left would be the state joining the online poker compact.
PA has attracted massive online casino traffic after earning $162.3 million in revenue in February, the Keystone State’s second-best month of all time.
We’ll continue to watch the bill’s progress, as it makes its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Calculators
