The elimination of a casino taxation in Pennsylvania is placing the state in a financial bind. Using the 2017 session of the General Assembly closing this week, lawmakers must find at least a magic pill to the income woes they will have known about since last fall, when the state Supreme Court ruled elements of the existing casino tax structure were unconstitutional.
Pennsylvania counties risk losing $120 million from the casino tax that’s been declared unconstitutional. Gov. Tom Wolf wants a bill on his desk ASAP to remedy budget problems resulting from the continuing state Supreme Court ruling.
Whenever continuing state legalized some types of casino gambling in 2006, they did so because of the vow that each casino would pay 2 per cent of gross slot revenues to the townships where they’re located.
That share ended up being to encourage communities to welcome casino that is new, and assist offset additional costs connected with having a gambling place in their backyard. If any casinos did not fulfill a $10 million minimum, however, it had been on it to make the difference up. And that is where the slot machine minimum tax created a nagging problem for the courts.
Courtroom Bust
In 2015, the Mount Airy Casino and Resort within the Poconos protested, when 2 per cent of their slot revenues amounted to no more than $2.8 million, leaving them $7.2 million short.
The Supreme Court ruled in September Continue reading “Pennsylvania Casino Tax Deadline Looms, as State Scrambles for Revenue Solution”