Atlantic City wants a cut of NJ’s sports betting tax
The Mayor of Atlantic City says that it should get the same percentage than other cities and get a cut from the sports betting tax.
US.- Marty Small, mayor of Atlantic City, is asking for a share of the sports betting tax in New Jersey. The Mayor argues that Atlantic City should get 1.25% of the taxes on sports betting generated by racetracks that East Rutherford and Holmdel get.
Current state laws establish that Atlantic City’s cut goes to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which then uses that money to market the city’s resorts, AP reported. Small believes that the city should not be excluded from receiving these taxes.
“Say a person comes to Atlantic City, checks in and buys an alcoholic drink: he pays a luxury tax that we don’t get a penny of,” Small said. “He stays in a hotel from Wednesday through Sunday; that’s a hotel tax we don’t get a penny of. He parks his car for four days in a casino garage; that’s a parking tax we don’t see a penny of. And he bets on sports while he’s here — and we don’t get a penny of that? How is that fair?”
Small talked in front of a state Assembly committee and the City Council passed a resolution supporting the case last week. However, state officials said that Atlantic City needs to be trusted with resources it already has (in reference to past corruption cases).
“You can’t talk about raising taxes or finding new sources of revenue until you really do have your house in order. This city still has a long way to go,” State Senate President Steve Sweeney recently told The Press of Atlantic City.
