Gaming caucus proposes elimination of sports betting tax in Las Vegas

The Congressional Gaming Caucus has presented a bill that would repeal the tax on legal sports betting in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic to mitigate the impact on the gambling industry.

US.-  A bill to repeal the tax on legal sports betting in Las Vegas has been filed in the House by the Congressional Gaming Caucus.

According to representant Dina Titus, a member of the caucus, the legislation intends to reduce the economic impact of the pandemic on operators.

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., co-chairs of the caucus, filed the bill to repeal the 0.25 per cent excise tax on legal sports bets known as the “handle tax,” and the additional $50 a year tax on each employee working for a sportsbook.

Gaming establishments in Nevada paid $13.3m in taxes in 2019, more than any other state, according to the caucus.

Rep. Titus said: “At a time when Las Vegas is experiencing the highest unemployment rate of any large metro area in the country, forcing sportsbooks to pay an additional tax on each employee makes it harder to bring about economic recovery.

“I have proposed this legislation for years and I finally feel like the momentum is on our side”.