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Weekly News Roundup 2-17-17

New Sports Betting Bills Introduced

Bills to legalized sports betting have been introduced in Maryland and Pennsylvania in the past week.

House Bill 519 was introduced into the PA House of Representatives this week by State Rep. Rob Matzie. The bill will allow casinos licensed in Pennsylvania to offer sports wagering as soon as it is legal under federal law.

House Bill 989 was introduced to the Maryland House by State Representatives, Jason C. Buckel, and Kevin B. Hornberger. The bill would allow the state’s racetracks and casinos to apply for a sports betting license. For passage, the bill would not only need to signed by the governor but approval via voter referendum. It would also establish a state task force to study the sports betting industry.

Sports Betting Ring Bust in Georgia

This past Thursday, the Georgie Bureau of Investigation raided two homes in north Georgia that were tied to an online sports betting ring. Frank House, age 54, owned both homes and was operating as a bookie using an offshore site to take wagers.

House was charged with felony commercial gambling and several drug possession charges. The investigation of the betting ring is still ongoing. It’s been locally dubbed as, “Operation Parlay: Bringing Down the House.”