Tag: harrisburg PA

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 23, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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An overwhelming number of Pennsylvanians support broad reforms of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), according to a poll released today by the Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP).

Read a memo on the polling here.

The poll, commissioned by CYGNAL polling, gauged Pennsylvanians’ opinions on proposed reforms to the PGCB. Those reforms include reducing member salaries, implementing mandatory ethics training, increasing penalties for not disclosing meetings with the businesses or agents of those the PGCB regulates, and biennial audits to measure compliance with transparency.

The PGCB is the licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state.

Doug Sprankle, president of PA TAP, an organization comprised of hundreds of locations that support skill games and operators who maintain the games, stated: “Pennsylvanians are unified in support of reforming the PGCB. These reforms are desperately needed because media reports have uncovered a cozy relationship between casinos and the PGCB. The PGCB is supposed to regulate the casinos, not take their orders.

“PA TAP is particularly concerned about the inappropriate and secret meetings casino lobbyists had to successfully influence the PGCB to attack legal skill games,” added Sprankle. 

The poll, conducted from June 14-16, 2024, included likely Pennsylvania general election voters who signaled strong support for reforms to the PGCB.

When asked if they would support further penalties for any Board or staff member, as well as casino operators, staff or designees for failing to post meetings on publicly available logs as currently required, 69.1% support reforms, while only 10.5% oppose.

Most voters, 74.5%, support decreasing the salary of PGCB members from $145,000 annually to $90,000, which is consistent with other state board appointments.

Even more voters, 77.8%, support biennial audits to ensure that the PGCB fully complies with the Gaming Act and checks to ensure the Board is operating with full openness and transparency.

Requiring all Board members and executive staff to take mandatory annual ethics training is supported by 71.9% of voters, and opposed by 10.2%.

About PA TAP

Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP) helps protect member businesses, fraternal clubs, volunteer fire companies and veterans’ organizations in challenging economic times. PA TAP’s mission is to help members succeed financially through legislative efforts beneficial to their stability and growth. Learn more here.

Source: Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 15, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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A majority of voters support a reasonable 16% tax on legal skill games and say they are less likely to vote for an elected official who favors a higher, crushing tax rate on the games, according to a poll released today by the Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association (PA TAP). Read a memo on the polling linked here.

The poll commissioned by CYGNAL polling gauged Pennsylvanians’ opinions on skill games and aspects of the legislature’s plans to tax and regulate the gaming devices. 

Doug Sprankle, president of PA TAP, an organization comprised of hundreds of locations that support skill games and operators who maintain the games, stated: “Polling results show that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support a compromise solution that would fairly tax and regulate skill games. They understand the important role supplemental revenue generated from these games plays in supporting small businesses and fraternal clubs. 

“They also understand the difference between regulation and overregulation. We are hopeful the Legislature will heed the advice of Pennsylvanians and fairly regulate and tax skill games and the small businesses and fraternal clubs they support,” added Sprankle. 

The poll, conducted from June 14-16, 2024, included likely Pennsylvania general election voters and showed that a significant majority (50.5%) oppose a ban on skill games, compared to just 28.7% supporting a ban.

Over 50%, (50.1%) support state lawmakers working on a compromise proposal that would regulate and tax skill games, with only 29.3% opposing.

By a margin of 49.7% to 25.7%, a majority of those polled also understand that skill games, which require a player’s skills, are not the same as slot machines, which are based on pure chance.

Voters polled don’t believe skill games harm other gaming revenues, including slots, iGaming, or lottery. 

Lastly, voters were asked their opinion on an appropriate skill game tax rate. PA TAP and other supporters of skill games say a 16% tax rate on skill games is affordable for small businesses and fraternal clubs. This tax rate would provide $250 million in new revenue to the state in just the first year of taxation. Opponents want to see a 54% tax, which is the rate applied to casino slot machines. 

The overwhelming majority of voters polled oppose lawmakers applying the crippling 54% tax rate on skill games operated by small businesses, American Legions, VFWs, volunteer fire companies and other fraternal clubs. In addition, the vast majority (54.7%) say they are less likely to support a lawmaker who votes for a 54% tax rate, as opposed to 17.6% who would.

Conversely, nearly 60% (58.9%) of voters say they support applying a reasonable tax rate of 16% on skill games, which would allow locations with the games to keep more profit, with only 17.6% opposed.

Learn more about PA TAP here.

Source: Pennsylvania Taverns and Players Association