Table games coming in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee has scheduled a public hearing Thursday on legislation that would allow live table games such as Blackjack at Pennsylvania casinos.
Pocono Downs chief executive Bobby Soper will testify at the 10 a.m. hearing, and he’ll tell committee members that table games will boost business – and with it the state’s take – but the proposed tax rate of approximately 30 percent is too high.
“I think it’s a little onerous,” Soper said. “Thirty percent would make it difficult to generate a reasonable return.”
Even the bill’s sponsor acknowledges that passage could be a long time coming. But House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, wants the proposal he introduced in July and purposely numbered 2121 to advance the discussion.
In addition to taxes, casino owners would pay an initial $10 million license fee and a $500,000 annual renewal fee for the privilege of offering the games.
Table games also would require casinos to hire hundreds more employees.
