Delaware lawmakers eye gambling changes

Delaware lawmakers are poised to introduce proposed revisions to gambling laws that could cost the state more than $20 million a year.

 

 

Finance secretary Tom Cook told an industry panel Tuesday that a bill revising how Delaware’s three casinos share gambling revenue with the state will be introduced this week.

The legislation is based on recommendations from a study commission led by Cook that discussed how to help Delaware’s casinos as they struggle with competition from neighboring states.

The recommendations include having the state share the costs for slot machine vendors with the casinos, rather than the casinos continuing to pay the full amount. Other proposals include eliminating the annual $3 million table games fee paid by the casinos and reducing the state’s percentage of table game revenue.