Delaware
May Expand Gambling
As reported by the Delaware
State News: "Delaware's three gambling
parlors will stay open nearly nonstop and feature
more slot machines under a proposal Gov. Ruth
Ann Minner, legislators and casino officials
announced Thursday.
"In
exchange for longer hours and more machines,
the casinos would pay the state a yearly fee
of $300 to $1,000 per new machine.
"The
Department of Finance estimates the fees, combined
with the normal share of the increased slots
proceeds, would generate an additional $2.3
million in the current budget and $11.4 million
for the state in fiscal 2007, which begins July
1.
"Supporters
expected to introduce legislation on Tuesday
to implement the plan, which also includes a
guarantee the state will use at least $1 million
a year from slot machine revenue to help gambling
addicts.
"
'The real money here is in the additional machines
that will be allowed and the additional hours,'
said Rep. William A. Oberle, R-Newark, who sponsored
the legislation legalizing slot machines at
the state's three horse racing tracks.
"…Gov.
Minner had previously opposed 24-hour operations
for casinos, but relented in the face of looming
out-of-state threats to the state's fourth-largest
revenue source…"
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