The lottery is also intended to curb illegal gambling operations that were taking place in PA. The purpose of the lottery, as stated in the bill, is to provide property tax relief to the elderly for property taxes paid in 1971 and thereafter to persons 65 years of age or older. The PA state lottery was established in Act 91 of 1971 as a government run entity. The modern purpose of gambling legislation in Pennsylvania is focused on using revenues to help create more jobs, boost the economy, and stitch together the state's financial deficit. Governor Tom Wolf signed that bill into law on October 30, 2017.

On October 26, 2017, the House passed a bill to legalize online gambling. Although casino gaming has been legal for less than two decades, Pennsylvania is second only to Nevada in commercial casino revenues. Gambling in Pennsylvania includes casino gambling, the Pennsylvania Lottery, horse racing, bingo, and small games of chance conducted by nonprofit organizations and taverns under limited circumstances.

Lottery, casinos, Bingo, horse racing, and games of chance in the U.S.