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Pennsylvania casino operators leery of tax

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania -- As reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Casino operators in Pennsylvania pay some of the highest tax rates on their revenues in the nation, a fact many of them point out to state legislators as the General Assembly considers bills to legalize — and tax — table games.

"While Pennsylvania's 55-percent gross tax rate is in line with most states' racetrack-casino taxes, it is the highest rate in the country for stand-alone casinos. The state Legislature is considering proposals to legalize table games with tax rates from 12 percent to 34 percent, which is closer to the range of tax rates for stand-alone casinos in other states.

"Lawmakers also are considering one-time, table games license fees of up to $20 million.

"'State officials are kind of trying to balance a desire not to totally open up the state to gambling, but at the same time to have it be profitable for (casino) owners,' said Ian Pulsipher, a gambling policy specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver. As budget crises spread across the country, more states have tried to expand gambling, he said.

"Pennsylvania has been without a budget since July as lawmakers battle over how to fill a gap initially estimated at $3.2 billion. They are looking at revenue from the tax on table games to help pay the bills..."

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