Tax Rates Threaten New Chicago Casino, Sportsbook

Written By Derek Helling on August 26, 2019Last Updated on January 6, 2020
Chicago casino and sportsbook 2019

Casinos, like any other business, operate on a simple equation of income being the result of profit subtracted by expenses.

Taxes, one of the costs, might also be the hurdle that prevents a new Chicago casino initiative from ever launching.

A recently completed feasibility study, commissioned by the Illinois government, presents an unfavorable estimate. As a result, the future progression of the project is now uncertain.

information about the study’s new game job in Chicago

Union Gaming Analytics in Las Vegas released a study on August 13. The study’s most relevant statement provides clear conclusions:

The tax and payment structure for gaming in the US, known as &hellip, which is the most productive, usually makes any casino project economically unfeasible, regardless of location and mdash.

The management of a casino is akin to a double-edged sword. While casinos hold tremendous potential for income, they are also subject to some of the nation’s steepest taxes.

The declaration notes that no other state taxes casinos as heavily as Illinois, especially true for casinos in the Land of Lincoln.

According to the data from the study, a new casino in Chicago would be taxed 72% of its revenue. This implies that even if the casino earns hundreds of millions of dollars annually, it would be impossible for any company to make a profit when only 28% of the revenue is left to cover operating costs.

The findings of the study raise questions about the strategy of the state government for enhancing its economic condition.

Why Illinois should be devastated by this

To put it succinctly, Illinois legislators viewed the expansion of gaming as a solution to their debt problem. The state has been financially constrained for a long time, causing delays in individual income tax refunds.

The authorization of six new gaming facilities, including a mega-casino in the Chicago metro and Illinois sports betting, was hoped to generate new tax revenue to bolster the state coffers.

That strategy may have now succumbed to its own “success.” The tax rates in the new law, previously envisioned as the state’s savior, have ironically become their own downfall.

It’s quite clear that for the project to proceed, lawmakers will have to adjust their expectations downwards. This is a possible scenario.

Where the fresh game job in Chicago will go from ok

Today, the Illinois Gaming Board has 90 days to propose alterations to state legislators in line with the new law. This might lead to a reduction in the tax rate.

Should that happen, the project’s overall prospects could improve. Research suggests that there is significant potential to earn millions of dollars.

The query pertains to the extent of tax reduction that lawmakers will implement to facilitate the task. If they slash the rate excessively, it will diminish the casino’s ability to contribute to the state treasury.

If the conflicting interests cannot come to a fair agreement, it could be decades before any more steps are taken against the Chicago game. It’s inevitable that fees and death are part of life.

The opportunity for a gaming job in Chicago may arise from tax-related suicides. However, lawmakers need to overcome this obstacle to continue.

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Helling Derek

Derek Helling, a 2013 graduate of the University of Iowa, serves as a lead writer for PlayUSA and the manager of BetHer. His work primarily focuses on the cross-sections of sports, business, and law.

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