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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dante Santoni |
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House Gaming Oversight Committee gets good news on table games
HARRISBURG, Aug. 9 – The state House Gaming Oversight Committee today held an informational hearing to find out how table games are playing out in the state.
Committee Chairman Rep. Dante Santoni said in less than a month of operation, table games have created 4,460 jobs and are helping to boost the state's property tax relief fund.
"So far, table games have been very good for Pennsylvania," said Santoni, D-Berks. "They have put more than 4,000 people to work and increased tourism, which means more dollars going into the General Fund so we can continue providing important services to Pennsylvanians without raising taxes."
Jobs created by table games include supervisors, dealers and clerks, and security. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, table games and slots have created 12,754 jobs in Pennsylvania.
Santoni said in addition to creating jobs, table games also seem to be boosting play at the slot machines that fund property tax relief.
"The state received a record $116 million in slot machine tax revenues in July; a 17.81 percent increase over last summer that will go to lowering property taxes," Santoni said. "Many casinos credit that increase in slot play with the growing number of visitors they have seen since table games rolled out in mid-July."
Revenue figures for table games won't be available until after Aug. 20.