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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dante Santoni |
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Gaming committee to hold hearing on video lottery terminals
HARRISBURG, April 20 – The state House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing Thursday on legislation that would authorize video lottery terminals at bars, restaurants, and private social clubs licensed by the Liquor Control Board, according to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks.
The public hearing will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 23 in Room 140 of the Main Capitol Building in Harrisburg.
Video lottery includes video poker, video keno, and other games that allow a person to wager on the outcome of a video game.
The state's share of revenue derived from the video lottery machines would be used to help state-system and community college students pay for higher education. Santoni, who is chairman of the Gaming Oversight Committee, said he has long supported increased funding for higher education to help parents and students pay the cost of tuition.
"Pennsylvania is facing a massive budget deficit, and there will be little room to help working families afford increasingly out-of-reach tuition costs at our public colleges," Santoni said.
Under the bill (H.B. 1317), all students would pay at least $1,000 per year toward the cost of tuition. Students and families who do not qualify for grants through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency but who earn less than $100,000 a year would receive a grant equal to half the cost of tuition. Santoni said that translates to a $2,700 discount for State System of Higher Education universities. The average discount at community colleges would be about $500 for students who pay local tuition and around $1,000 for students who pay out-of-area tuition.
There are 11,000 bars and restaurants and 3,000 private social clubs with liquor licenses in the state. Each establishment would be allowed to install up to five video lottery machines.
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