PA leaders think a 'skill games' tax could help boost transit, road and bridge spending
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2024/08/09/pennsylvania-legislature-shapiro-tax-skill-games-transit/stories/202408090096
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Senate Republican majority leader, Joe Pittman of Indiana County, on Friday said separately they were amenable to the general concept of tackling the thorny of issue regulating and taxing the games, and using at least some of the money to boost mass transit spending. But Mr. Pittman made clear that some of the money also would have go to transportation infrastructure, like road and bridge improvements.
“I do believe there is a path,” Mr. Pittman told the Post-Gazette. “It is a complicated path.”
Mr. Shapiro, answering a question at an afternoon speaking event, said Rep. Matt Bradford of Montgomery County – the leader of Democrats who control the state House – is ready to move forward on the general concept. A spokesperson for Mr. Bradford was not immediately available for comment.
This has become a very hot issue. The casino owners in Pennsylvania are suing because they are required to pay a tax on slot machine revenues, which they say is "unconstitutional" since the owners of the so-called "skills games" aren't taxed. So now the Governor and several legislators are stepping in to see that the skills games are also taxed on revenues.
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It's not a tax on leisure activities, it's a competition with the casino gambling here in PA.
Casino owners pay a lot of taxes and one of them is the tax on slot machines. That's mainly what we have in our casinos in PA are the slots, and a few blackjack tables.
Bars and night clubs aren't allowed to have slot machines, but they do have these "skill games" machines that amount to the same thing. It's a form of gambling because those who play can also win money, but when they lose, they lose money. That's extra income to the bar or nightclub owner. Until now it hasn't been taxed, but pretty soon it will be.
If they cared they would have banned them, along with casino gambling, off-track betting, alcohol, tobacco and firearms.
What I keep asking myself is, why aren't people playing these "games" on their own home computers or cellphones?
They have to go to a bar and put money into a machine, just to get some enjoyment?
