Casino group fighting gaming tax increase
By Cy Ryan, Las Vegas Sun
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Resort Association, a group of major casino owners, says an initiative petition to raise gaming taxes is confusing and fails to tell the voter the full story.
The petition doesn’t provide any insight into how much money will be generated or who will pay the fees.
The association, represented by attorney Matt Griffin, filed papers on Wednesday in District Court to support its lawsuit arguing that the petition should be declared defective.
Las Vegas businessman Monte Miller filed the initiative petition with the secretary of states office on Feb. 7 to boost the gambling tax on big casinos from 6 percent to 9 percent on gross revenue.
Attorney Maggie McLetchie, a spokeswoman for Miller, said she was “not surprised” and expected the Resort Association would “do all they could to keep this out of the hands of the voters.”
In all the other states with some form of legalized gaming (46 now?), the lowest tax rate on gaming revenue is somewhere around 30%, with some states taking 50%. Nevada 6 to 8%. They have had a pretty sweet deal for quite some time, and look where it has gotten the state. Time to pony up! Even 10 to 12% would be a huge improvement. Time for mining to pay it’s fair share as well!