Letter to the editor: Illegal slot machines rob seniors
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Every Pennsylvania taxpayer, even those who do not enjoy gaming or the entertainment venues in the state’s casinos, benefits from the commonwealth’s casino industry. Last year, the industry generated $1.93 billion in state tax revenue, an increase of $838.2 million over the previous year. Casinos also provide nearly $150 million annually to counties, municipalities, public safety agencies and volunteer fire companies, among other local beneficiaries.
Older Pennsylvanians continue to receive tremendous benefits from our state’s casinos, including rebates that help residents stay in their homes. In 2020-21, lottery funds and revenue from the casino’s slot machines provided more than $222.5 million in rebates to more than 466,600 households.
The industry provides approximately 20,000 jobs and invests more than $500 million annually with in-state suppliers. These contributions stand in stark contrast to the operators of illegal slot machines called “skills games.”
These machines generate no gaming taxes, while the state receives 57% of slot machine revenues from casinos. These illegal machines also drain hundreds of millions of dollars from lottery-funded programs.
Pennsylvania’s seniors are losing out to operators of illegal slot machines, and we should not tolerate it.
