Pennsylvania collects first million under new law
The local control board reported that a casino has paid a US$1 million fee that took effect with the new gambling law.
US.- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board revealed on Wednesday that Valley Forge Casino Resort has paid US$1 million as a fee to allow people who aren’t involved in other amenities in the facility to gamble.
This payment became the first one ever since Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill to expand gambling in the state on Monday, which had an immediate effect. Valley Forge Casino reported in its website that the facility is now open to the public at no cost at all, local media reported.
The previous provision established that casino gamblers had to take part in other amenities at an establishment in order to be able to participate. The legislation was passed in order to balance the state’s US$32 billion budget: the bill imposes a tax of 54 percent on online slots revenue, and 16 percent on online poker and casino table games. The bill is set to generate up to US$239 million in revenue this fiscal year and help close a budget gap that has been taunting Pennsylvania for quite some time now.
According to data released by the control board, table games revenue at local casino increased almost 10 percent in September when compared to the same period a year before: they generated US$75.6 million, a 9.9 percent increase from the same time in 2016. Total tax revenue from table games was US$12.1 million.
