Delaware eying state tax, fee cuts to keep casinos competitive

DOVER, Del. — A panel examining how to keep Delaware’s casinos competitive is recommending changes that could cost the state more than $20 million a year.

Panel members on Tuesday agreed that the state should share the costs for slot machine vendors and fees, rather than having the three casinos continue to pay the full amount. The change, which would take effect July 1, would cost the state $9.9 million next fiscal year.

The panel also approved eliminating the annual $3 million table gaming fee paid by the casinos, and to reduce the state’s share of table game revenue from 29.4 percent to 15 percent, at an estimated annual cost of $7.2 million.

The recommendations, which are supported by Gov. Jack Markell, will be submitted to the General Assembly for lawmakers to consider.

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