Gamble For Free

Now that Pennsylvania has signed the deal, the gaming industry is targeting other expansion opportunities. While certain issues are being discussed and proposed in many of the US states, new growth doesn’t seem to be looming.

State nominated leaders see gambling taxes as a way of narrowing budget shortfall brought on by the economic crisis. Pennsylvania is allowing its slot machine gambling casinos and race course games to include table games in exchange for licensing fees and a 16 % tax on gaming revenues.

According to Janney Montgomery Scott gaming analyst Brian McGill even with the financially complicated environment most states find themselves in fresh gaming expansion opportunities.

Ohio is the sole state with a gambling ballot question this year. Last year, Ohio voters permitted four full-scale casinos in the state. In November, the state is hoping to be granted permission for holding races and to add 17,500 slot machines.

Otherwise, gambling debates will be sorted inside state legislative houses.
McGill forecasts that Massachusetts would be the only state left to legalize casinos in 2010. Legislative assembly leaders, including Governor Deval Patrick, are exhausted of watching over potential tax dollars being gambled away in Connecticut. Officials want gambling but many questions have rose on what form of gambling should be permitted.

McGill further stated that they were to remain cautiously optimistic about the passing of the law. Casinos have also been debated upon in Kentucky.

Unlike Massachusetts, there is a split where in the governor and legislative leaders support gambling but the Senate leaders solidly opposes the act. With a possible $1 billion budget deficit and neighboring Ohio including casinos and potential racetrack slot machines the problem is bound to resurface in time.

Illinois gaming officials are working toward including 25,000 to 30,000 extra video gaming machines as part of a $30 billion capital works project. But it may take more than a year to permit the systems and regulatory structure.