Will Pennsylvania Cash in on Poker
Written by RogerCP | Sunday, June 28th, 2009
Bill DeWeese, Pennsylvania’s House Majority Whip, has sought to expand gambling opportunities at the slot casinos that exist in Pennsylvania. The legislation DeWeese introduced would allow the slots casinos to add table games at their venues, which would include poker tables.
DeWeese has projected that if the legislation, which has 19 co-sponsors, is accepted by the House Gaming Oversight Committee, the expansion of the casino world in the state would add about $300 million to the state’s coffers in the first year of operation. The changes would also create as many as 16,000 new jobs.
DeWeese noted that “The astounding recent popularity of poker by ESPN, celebrity tournaments, and local fund-raisers is making table games a much more popular form of gaming. Pennsylvania also must stay competitive with our neighboring states because if we don’t, the gaming dollars will go elsewhere.”
Taxes on table games would be taxed at a high daily rate of 21%. Eighteen percent of the proceeds would be used to reduce school taxes through the state’s Property Tax Relief Fund. A much smaller percentage, two percent, would follow the same distribution model that currently exists for slots, whereby county and local municipality projects will benefit. The final one percent will be used by the Department of Agriculture, for rural youth programs and other agricultural programs. Some of the money would also be earmarked for the Agriculture Eduction Loan forgiveness program.
The licensing cost for the 14 existing slot facilities in Pennsylvania to provide table gaming in their facilities will be substantial. According to the House Bill 21, licenses will cost $10 million, with an annual renewal fee of $500,000.
DeWeese said “This expansion will bring additional patrons to the facilities as well, because table games appeal to a different type of customer than slot machines. The expanded customer base likely will lead to even more economic development in the surrounding areas.”
He also noted that in practical terms, those wishing to spend their leisure time gambling could put their $20 in slot machines, or on table games, such as poker or blackjack, and that in effect, it is the same thing.
Although there recently was a Supreme Court ruling that will now allow campaign contributions to be made by gaming entities, DeWeese has said that on a personal level, he would not accept them, and that in the legislation he introduced, he has included the original prohibition language that came with the slots law when it was introduced.
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· Written by RogerCP · Filed Under Poker Gossip · Comments Off
