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State of Play’s TL;DR
- A Pennsylvania representative intends to introduce a bill to regulate skill games and tax them at 20% as the deadline looms.
- The measures would also cut the tax rate on slots by 2.1%.
Pennsylvania Rep. Russ Diamond says he plans to introduce legislation to regulate skill games, tax them at 20%, and tie the move to property-tax relief for homeowners. The effort is being made with the Oct. 13 deadline to regulate skill games coming quickly.
The bills would also reduce the state tax rate on slot machines, including online casino slots, from 52% to 49.9%, with an Oct. 13 deadline looming for skill-game policy in the state.
Diamond, a Republican, is pitching the proposal as both a regulatory framework and a tax-policy reset.
Machines Become illegal in less than six weeks
Of his proposal, Diamond said:
“Every time I talk about property taxes, people complain about not seeing the relief from casinos promised by politicians more than 20 years ago.
“This set of bills will increase property tax relief for 96% of Pennsylvania’s homeowners and deliver it directly into their hands. The amount of relief they receive will grow in direct proportion to the annual growth of all forms of legal gaming in the commonwealth.”
The policy debate comes as skill games face a hard Oct. 13 deadline that, absent a change in state policy, could make the machines illegal in Pennsylvania.
That raises the stakes for multiple groups. Businesses that host skill games want to keep them operating, while opponents want them removed. The machines are commonly found in bars, grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience marts.
Diamond also said the plan would nearly double support for compulsive and problem gambling treatment.
Based on reporting by Mo Nuwwarah for Gaming America.
