Texas
poll supports legalized casinos
As
reported by The San Antonio Business Journal
TEXAS
-
"The Texas Legislature should approve a constitutional
amendment that would allow legalized casino gambling in
the state, according to the results of an online reader
poll.
"State
senators from Houston and Dallas are proposing a plan
that, if ultimately approved by Texas voters, would dedicate
revenue generated by state-regulated casino operations
to financial aid programs for college students.
"One
fear is that casino gaming, if located along San Antonio's
River Walk, would hurt the existing businesses among the
city's top tourist attraction.
"However,
67 percent of online voters supported legalized casino
operations…"
Indiana casino platform legislation
proposed
As
reported by The Louisville Courier-Journal
INDIANAPOLIS,
Ind. - "Lawmakers
talked yesterday about allowing the state's casinos to
get rid of their boats and essentially build on platforms
over water -- if they're willing to pay a substantial
fee.
"The proposal
also would increase taxes on the most profitable casinos,
including Caesars in Harrison County, even if they didn't
choose to trade their boats for so-called barges.
"The provisions
were part of language suggested by Rep. Trent Van Haaften,
D-Mount Vernon, the author of House Bill 1835, which authorizes
slot machines at Indiana's horse tracks.
"Van Haaften
and a handful of other legislators are seeking a compromise
between the HB 1835 versions passed by the House and Senate.
Both authorized racetrack slots but disagreed about how
many, how much to tax them and what fee to charge tracks
for the right to install them.
"…The
proposal from Van Haaften would set a fee of $25 million,
plus $500 per square foot of additional space created
by the barge casino. That would likely mean a $50 million
fee, for example, if the Argosy Casino under construction
in Lawrenceburg switched to a barge, Whetstone said.
"…The
plan under discussion yesterday would impose a 40 percent
tax on income higher than $200 million, whether or not
the casino opted for barges…"