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Saturday, October 1, 2016

UPDATED: Court strikes down casino payments to host communities in Pennsylvania




Geoff Freeman, CEO of the American Gaming Association, said as the ... made by casinos since the state passed the casino gambling law in 2004.


After rejecting city budgets in 2014 and 2015 and withholding about $20 million in gambling tax revenues, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that ...


The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem provides its host city with almost $10 million annually in slot-machine revenues. (Express-Times file photo).


HARRISBURG, Pa. (CN) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a municipal tax on slot machines outside Philadelphia violates the state ...


With revenues at every casino always falling below $500 million a year, the $10 million has always been higher than the percentage take would be.

Casinos, with their flashy slot machines, lavish buffets and smoky table games, came with heavy strings attached that now serve as fiscal lifelines in ...


Former Harrison Mayor Jeff Crockett said he saw enough economic potential in the proposedcasino amendment that he hosted petitions for people in ...


Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, for example, pays $16 million in fees to local communities. The $8.8 million Bethlehem gets is equivalent to 100 ...



The state's highest court on Wednesday ruled a formula in the state gaming act that determines how much gaming revenue casinos are required to ...




The state Supreme Court has struck down casino host fees that cities have come ... By striking down the tax paid by casinos, the court strips more than $16 ... state gaming law imposes a 2 percent fee on gross slot machine revenues, ...

High court strikes down casino payments to host communities
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's highest court is striking down the tax that casinos pay their host communities, potentially devastating local ...

Local Governments Could Lose Funding From Casinos - Erie News Now
Millions of dollars are given to local governments each year, from fees paid by Presque Isle Downs, and other casinos in the state. But now, those ...


Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racetrack in Dauphin County. A court ruling will force the state legislature to reconsider payments to casinos' host ...


That difference cost nine Pennsylvania casinos a total of $48.5 million in the year ended June 30, according the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's ...


Luzerne annually receives approximately $12 million on average in Local Share Account program money from gambling revenues from the Mohegan ...


HARRISBURG, Pa. —Pennsylvania's highest court on Wednesday struck down a requirement that has forced casinos to pay tens of millions of dollars ...


PLAINS TOWNSHIP — Communities where Pennsylvania's casinos are located could lose tens of millions of dollars, thanks to a state Supreme Court ...



People sit at the bar at Mohegan Sun Pocono casino on Christmas day. ... because it is not uniform and affects Pennsylvania's 12 casinos differently.


HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's highest court on Wednesday struck down a requirement that has forced casinos to pay tens of millions of dollars to ...



Farmland preservation could suffer if state lawmakers fail to restore $16 million in casino host fees paid out by Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Court strikes down casino payments to host communities in Pennsylvania

Published  12:16 PM EDT Sep 29, 2016

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the roughly 4 percent "local share assessment" is unconstitutional because it is not uniform and affects Pennsylvania's 12 casinos differently.
The justices said they would delay the effect of their decision striking down the tax for four months to give lawmakers an opportunity to fix it.
"We are mindful that our decision may significantly affect many counties and municipalities that have ordered their affairs in reliance upon" the casino tax revenue, Justice David Wecht wrote in the 18-page opinion.
Under the state's original 2004 casino law, casinos must pay at least 4 percent of gross slot-machine gambling revenues to their host communities. That includes 2 percent to counties and 2 percent or $10 million, whichever is greater, to municipalities.
  
SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia is exempt, as are two smaller "resort" casinos: Valley Forge Casino in suburban Philadelphia and Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in southwestern Pennsylvania.
  
But Mount Airy Casino in northeastern Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains had asked the court to strike down the $10 million host fee, arguing that it violates the state constitution by imposing a heavier tax burden on lower performing casinos.
  
Some $141 million in slots revenue was paid in the last fiscal year to counties and municipalities, according to Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board data. That included about $48 million paid by casinos to satisfy the $10 million host fee requirement.
  
Gov. Tom Wolf's office declined comment on the ruling Wednesday. Senate officials said the decision could have far-reaching effects.
  
"We will take action and we'll do it in such a way to maintain the casino obligation to our local communities," Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Browne, R-Lehigh, told the Morning Call of Allentown. "This would absolutely devastate these towns."
  
Douglas Hill, executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said the money is significant for counties.
  
"Very clearly, the gaming revenue has gone to legitimate and worthwhile local purposes, all aimed at improving the community, and equally for the host municipalities," Hill said.
  
The amount of the host fee is equivalent to the cost of 100 police officers, Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez told the Morning Call.
  
"So this is something that we're very concerned about," Donchez said.
  
The court also awarded relief to Mount Airy Casino, although the amount was not immediately clear.



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