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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tim Mahoney |
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Mahoney votes for table games at Pennsylvania casinos
HARRISBURG, Jan. 7 – State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, said the state House has approved a conference committee version of legislation that would legalize table games such as blackjack and poker at slots casinos in Pennsylvania. The governor is expected to sign the legislation.
Mahoney said table games would provide an economic boost to his area because Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa in Farmington is interested in applying for a gaming license.
"This is a win-win situation for my district because if the resort would get the casino license it would mean hundreds of jobs and boost economic development," Mahoney said.
Mahoney also said if Nemacolin would be awarded a license, it would mean that Wharton Township, Uniontown Area School District and Fayette County would share 2 percent of the proceeds.
"The additional money could be used for water and sewage projects and possibly fund the cost of a regional police department," Mahoney said.
Under the bill, racetrack-based casinos and stand-alone slot parlors would be required to pay a license fee of $16.5 million and be allowed to place up to 250 tables per facility, while smaller resort casinos would be required to pay a $7.5 million license fee and be allowed up to 50 tables per facility. Those resort facilities would be permitted to increase the number of slot machines from 500 to 600. Casinos would also be permitted to host larger tournaments on a limited basis.
Mahoney said table games would be taxed at a rate of 16 percent, with 14 percent going directly to the state and 1 percent going to the facility's host county. Another 1 percent would be allocated for the casino's host municipality. After two years of having table games in operation, each casino would see its tax rate dropped to a total of 14 percent, with 12 percent to the state and 2 percent for a local share.
All revenue generated by the state tax would go into the state's General Fund to fill budget shortfalls until the state's "Rainy Day Fund" reaches $750 million. After that, all table game revenue would be added to the slot revenue in the Property Tax Relief Fund that already produced an average $180 in savings per household per year statewide.