$46 million for DE Casinos? Yeah, that checks out.
Horse racing must not die, so we need slot machines that must not die, so we need table games that must not die, so we need sports betting that must not die so we need….$46 million to bail out casinos. It all makes perfect sense.
Dover — A $46 million proposal to assist Delaware casinos has been released by the Lottery Gaming & Study Commission and sent to legislative lawyers to be crafted into legislation.
Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgtown, sits on the nine-person commission and was one of five members who voted for the proposal’s release during a Jan. 22 meeting in Dover. He said he voted to release the plan so the full General Assembly can discuss it.
How about they take down the “gambling addiction” billboards the State puts up, before allotting another dime to the casinos?
We’re doing this every year in the budget, and it’s been a bad risk.
Really makes, “but Dad, that’s my lunch money….” ring true, when the House covers the bet, and the schools get the gamble.
We should at least establish a “gaming” pathway at the Vo-tech or career programs in the high schools.
Gaming in Delaware is a failing business model. Politicians need to find a new revenue stream, i.e. industry that can operate in Delaware.
And no, tourism as in industry doesn’t create the tax base every one thinks it does.
Whhhhhyyyyy are we still propping up these losing propositions?
Maybe we can get Kenny Rogers to visit the legislature and sing that damn song.
Maybe we put the Gambling Addiction billboards in front of Leg Hall and bring in Kenny Rogers to do a concert on the steps.
I’ll repeat what I said (correctly) last year: If I were a betting man, and I’m not, I’d put more money on the Generous Assembly bailing out the casinos than I would on seeing an extra dime spent on our crumbling roads.
Why do you hate America? and Kenny Chesney?
A marijuana tax would cover it. See, also, Colorado.
Legalize it, don’t criticize it
Or heavens forbid if state employees get a raise after many years of loss of buying power with no increase..
Colorado just announced it pulled in $50 million in taxes during the first year of legal marijuana. Given that their population is about 5 times ours, Delaware could expect about $10 million a year.
The numbers I saw put CO revenue closer to $60 million, but pretty close. Also, this doesn’t include the savings in various prohibition enforcement costs. In Colorado the savings estimates are around $125 million. (I don’t know how accurate that number is, but intuitively it must been rather significant.)
OK, using the numbers Geezer supplies for Colorado — if we combine estimated proceeds from a marijuana tax with the revenue recovered by reducing the property tax relief for senior citizens, we’ve got roughly half of what we need for the casinos’ $45 million bailout.
Anyone else have suggestions on how we can bankroll the Denis McGlynn Welfare Fund?
Sure here’s a go….
1) Make gambling illegal, then we won’t feel obligated to bail them out–saving 46 million off the top.
2) Begin fining for gambling….no jail time ever, because we want to keep collecting on revenues from fines.
3) Legalize the marijuana with whatever parameters previously discussed
4) Collect the revenue from marijuana sales
5) Keep the billboards, but now include the “Why do you think they call it DOPE” variety, for public health balance with gambling, and appearance of concern
6) Prison release for those being held with tolerable levels of marijuana. Others begin the new culinary program of making “Delaweed Brownies” as a prison cottage industry, for take-out and mail orders.
7) Restart the State Lottery, since POWERBALL isn’t bringing it home for private citizens
8) Begin a State Lottery of what gets funded, because it sure as heck isn’t priortized.
Making gambling illegal would not add $46 million, it would subtract over $150 million.
Even if pot isn’t legalized – although there’s really no reason it shouldn’t be – decriminalization would keep many of our citizens out of the court system and prison, which should free up some money. Delaware’s government is really good at setting up blue ribbon panels, so I propose one to study this.
think of all the charter schools we could build with that pot money!
lol
@ geezer Being in the center of the megalopolis we would probably generate more revenue than Colorado. It probably be a short term source of revenue as other states moved to legalize, just as with gambling.
“BosNYWash” excellent usage of megalopolis, and way to avoid the incorrect megapolis.
@Tom: There’s no reason to think that Colorado’s sales are being driven by visitors. People who smoke pot can get it right where they live. It will be a steady source of income once it’s legalized. I imagine that, as with liquor and cigarette taxes, rates will depend on those in surrounding states.
CORRECTION!! Delaware has a MILLION DOLLAR Powerball winner this week! There’s some revenue! Oh, it’s going to the needle exchange program………