Petition aims to raise casino tax rate
By Bill O’Driscoll, Reno Gazette-Journal
A petition drive to raise taxes on Nevada’s biggest casinos has met swift resistance from the gaming lobby through a lawsuit filed in Carson District Court.
Advocates of the plan want to see the top rate in the multi-tiered tax on gross gaming revenue be raised from 6.75 percent to 9 percent. Rates in other states range from 8 percent in New Jersey and Mississippi to 50 percent in Illinois.
The gaming lobby is fighting a petition to raise the tax rate on Nevada's casinos.
But observers say if enacted, the outcome, amid recession that helped Nevada’s casinos amass a record $4 billion loss in fiscal 2011, could be far from bountiful for the state’s sparse coffers.
In the past decade, the number of slot machines statewide has gone from 217,000 to 187,000, said David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“I don’t know why you’d want to hitch your wagon to a horse when that horse is shrinking,” he said. “We’re already seeing casinos default. Even if you raise the tax 100 percent, Nevada’s footprint is still shrinking. Adding more to the tax burden isn’t going to help them.”
If enough signatures are gathered by November, the initiative, launched last month by the Las Vegas-based group Nevadans For a Fair 9 percent Gambling Revenue Tax, would go before the 2013 Legislature. If lawmakers reject it or fail to act, the issue would go before voters in 2014.
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
Brand new casino opened in the bay area, with unreal views,great sports bars,great food planned,unreal decor,why leave your yacht to drive to Tahoe to do what’s really brand spanking new in your back yard,plus they have plans to build a hotel in the next 2 years.
Paul getting hosed here!
A “Me the People” libertarian that follows the objectivist worldview of the twisted sociopath Ayn Rand will always object to paying the price of admission to civilized society. Taxing people like the abhorrent slimeball Sheldon Adelson and his fellow billionaire casino moguls a little more isn’t going to break them. If that’s “robbing Peter” than so be it. They are never going to trickle down a dime that doesn’t somehow benefit them.
Both gaming and mining have had a pretty sweet deal in Nevada up until now, and look what it has done for the state. A state with one of the best tax atmospheres for business, yet can’t seem to attract any because it doesn’t have a highly educated work force, doesn’t provide a high standard of education to the children of the employees of perspective industries, and has an infrastructure that could be described as crumbling at best. So by all means let’s keep it as status quo! Besides, with 48 states now having some form of legalized gaming (that pay a much higher tax rate on gaming revenue) Nevada could be past the point of no return. Green technologies and education in those technologies could be it’s only chance at redemption, but will probably never happen because of a short sighted mindset that refuses to invest in the future, thereby putting the nails in it’s own proverbial coffin!
it doesn’t have a highly educated work force, doesn’t provide a high standard of education to the children of the employees of perspective (sic) industries, and has an infrastructure that could be described as crumbling at best
California or Nevada? Sounds the same to me, except California is taxing its citizens to death already, as well as taxing the snot out of business. A business/casino friendly atmosphere is about all Nevada has going for it. No beaches, not real high mountains, not the most ambient climate. . . it shouldn’t be trying to destroy the main advantages it has!
attract any because it doesn’t have a highly educated work force.
There’s plenty people in our local casinos with degrees, the problem with this town is it has no use for highly smart people,
And all the plans on it’s well thought out Dream Plans ,Holes, doesn’t have anyone knowing much more than , shovel,chain saw experience for the forest clean up,how make a bed,put a turkey on a chair lift, bag their groceries,rent a item,give change if you’er lucky enough to have any coming.
I mean damn, you ever listen to these bright ideas these groups have at the city meeting, they should charge for a comedy show,On top that, they funny looking to top it off!
Dogwoman, just an FYI: Nevada has peaks in the 13,000 foot range (come on the highest point in the lower 48 is only 14,500). And maybe you don’t, but I would consider Nevada Beach a world class beach with crystal clear blue waters and a direct head on view of Mt. Tallac. Also the majority of the state has what many would consider a fairly temperate climate.
Personally, I think Nevada is beautiful. But it doesn’t have the abundant allure of the coastal states. Mining, gambling, and ranching are what Nevada had to offer its residents in the earlier days. Now it’s growing because of low taxes.
Northern Nevada, though somewhat depressed, isn’t really in that bad condition, economically. Go down to Vegas and you’ll see why the state is broke. Off the strip it’s like being in South Central L.A. All those folks who moved from so.Cal to Vegas during the boom days aren’t leaving because they don’t have to. Unemployment and welfare and food stamps are an unending way of life down there now. It’s quite shocking to see, and most unfortunate. But taxing the casinos more will not fix that problem. Getting rid of Harry Reid might.
Dogwoman, it’s kinda funny how in Nevada (like California) those from northern part of the state can’t stand the southernmost part of the state.
Also when I was reading your Peter and Paul analogy, all I could think of is where Mary fit in. Child of the sixties, what can I say.
Sharron Angle would be the teabag replacement for Harry Reid. Absolute nutbar fundamentalist racist. Her crazy rhetoric is easily googled.
Smedly, or as I call her, Sharon “Hear What I Mean, Not What I Say” Angle.
With regards to who would replace Harry Reid, I still suspect (okay start the conspiracy theorist accusations) some shenanigans in the primary that placed Angle in the Republican position against Reid rather than Tarkanian or even the other woman (I forget her name). Either of them could have beaten Reid handily. Nobody likes Harry Reid. But Sharron Angle had the craziness taint and the people chose the devil they knew over the devil they didn’t.
(Big, I also am a child of the ’60’s. I have Peter’s and Mary’s autographs, but I couldn’t get Paul’s. Too bad.)