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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 3001

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2271 Session of 1998


        INTRODUCED BY GANNON, WOGAN, E. Z. TAYLOR, CLARK, GRUPPO,
           MASLAND, MICOZZIE, McNAUGHTON, SEMMEL, HENNESSEY, GEIST,
           STERN, SAYLOR, SCHRODER, WAUGH, BAKER, MAHER, ROSS, LEDERER,
           PIPPY, GORDNER, MELIO, M. COHEN, COLAFELLA, BATTISTO,
           GIGLIOTTI, MILLER AND TRUE, FEBRUARY 25, 1998

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 25, 1998

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
     2     Consolidated Statutes, prohibiting on-line gambling.

     3     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     4  hereby enacts as follows:
     5     Section 1.  Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     6  Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
     7  § 5513.1.  On-line gambling.
     8     (a)  Offense defined.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
     9  law, a person commits a summary offense if he participates in
    10  on-line gambling over the internet or through an interactive
    11  computer service, excepting those practices authorized under the
    12  act of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351, No.91), known as the State
    13  Lottery Law.
    14     (b)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
    15  words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
    16  subsection:


     1     "Interactive computer service."  Any interactive information
     2  service, system or access software provider that provides or
     3  enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server.
     4     "Internet."  The international computer network of both
     5  Federal and non-Federal interoperable packet switched data
     6  networks.
     7     "On-line gambling."  The making, placing or receipt via
     8  computer of any bet or wager of money or other thing of value,
     9  made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake or other
    10  consideration or thing of value dependent upon the result of any
    11  game, contest or any other event, the outcome of which is
    12  uncertain or a matter of chance, whether such game, contest or
    13  event occurs or is to occur inside or outside the limits of this
    14  Commonwealth.
    15     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.










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