Atlantic City PILOT Dispute Hearing Delayed Three Weeks
$5,000 Welcome Bonus
Atlantic County will not hear a case involving its share of a portion of annual effective tax dollars until April 25. The case involves the amount owed to the county by the city's nine casinos. It is also about the inclusion of mobile sports betting and online casino gaming in the gross gaming revenue figure that determines the PILOT. The change in definition of revenue could cost the County $3 million to $5 million per year.
The PILOT payment is based on gross gaming revenue. County lawyers argue that the 2016 and 2018 deals were based upon the understanding that revenue from new sources such as online casino and mobile sports betting also were to be considered part of the figure that sets the Pilot level. The issue was dramatized at a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing in December. Outgoing Senate President Stephen Sweeney argued that up to four Atlantic City casinos might have to close without an adjustment to boost the casinos' bottom lines. Former Atlantic city mayor Don Guardian testified that casinos themselves set the current tax model in 2016.
