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Louisiana Governor Considering Gambling Tax Increase

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – As reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune: "Gov. Kathleen Blanco's chief fiscal adviser said Friday his office has asked state economists to see how much revenue for teacher pay raises would be generated if taxes on most forms of gambling are raised.

"The tax rate under discussion would be 32.5 percent, an increase of from 6 to 17 percentage points in existing rates.

"Commissioner of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc cautioned that although the governor's office is looking at that tax rate, no final decisions have been made, and the 32.5 percent rate is just a working number for discussion and planning purposes.

"…Wade Duty, executive director of the Casino Association of Louisiana, an association of riverboat casinos, said that raising the taxes to 32.5 percent would be disastrous for his industry.

"…Duty said Louisiana riverboats are already at a disadvantage in the region because of the 21.5 percent tax rate. The Shreveport-Bossier City market already is losing share to the American Indian casinos in Oklahoma, he said. And the New Orleans market is in a constant war with the Mississippi Gulf Coast because the casinos there, which are taxed at 8 percent, can afford to spend more money on marketing and promotions, he said…"

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