In 2019, state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R., Bucks) introduced legislation to ban unregulated slot-like machines known as skill games. What the public had no way of knowing was that

the bill was written by lobbyists for Parx Casino at the senator’s request.

Emails exposed through an unrelated lawsuit show Tomlinson’s staff communicating with casino lobbyists and a lawyer for the firm of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, who provided draft language in April 2019.

Those lobbyists continued to refine the language that month, providing a revised version.

Days before Tomlinson introduced the bill in May 2019, his legislative staff emailed a copy of the proposal for a final sign-off.

In 2019, state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R., Bucks) introduced legislation to ban unregulated slot-like machines known as skill games. What the public had no way of knowing was that the bill was written by lobbyists for Parx Casino at the senator’s request.

Emails exposed through an unrelated lawsuit show Tomlinson’s staff communicating with casino lobbyists and a lawyer for the firm of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, who provided draft language in April 2019.

Those lobbyists continued to refine the language that month, providing a revised version. Days before Tomlinson introduced the bill in May 2019, his legislative staff emailed a copy of the proposal for a final sign-off.

In 2019, state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R., Bucks) introduced legislation to ban unregulated slot-like machines known as skill games. What the public had no way of knowing was that the bill was written by lobbyists for Parx Casino at the senator’s request.

Emails exposed through an unrelated lawsuit show Tomlinson’s staff communicating with casino lobbyists and a lawyer for the firm of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, who provided draft language in April 2019.

Those lobbyists continued to refine the language that month, providing a revised version. Days before Tomlinson introduced the bill in May 2019, his legislative staff emailed a copy of the proposal for a final sign-off.