VGT’s on the other hand, while seen as more problematic by addiction therapists, have the potential to bring much more revenue.
The Illinois report noted that a 30 percent tax on VGT revenue there netted $145.6 million in tax dollars in the year ending in 2014. At the program’s full build-out, the commission’s report said, it could approach $200 million.
That’s based on about 20,000 machines.
Hard projections for Pennsylvania were not available for this story.
But Pennsylvania proponents see a market for at least 26,500 machines. Coupled with a slightly higher tax rate, they maintain that VGTs could be worth more than $300 million annually here.
Mustio said Friday supporters are still trying to reconfigure the revenue split between bar owners, game operators and the state to give the state a higher share, and, possibly, create a small slice for host municipalities.
For comparison purposes, a one-tenth of a percentage point increase in the state’s 3.07 percent income tax is worth about $400 million to the state.