By analyzing the win-the base for the wagering tax-instead of wagering tax revenue, we eliminate problems with measuring tax rates and the impact of changes in tax rates over time.
We first examine the historical growth patterns in attendance and wagering at Indiana's riverboat casinos. Note that all years referenced in this article are fiscal years unless otherwise noted. What's more, all revenue from the separate racetrack casino wagering tax is dedicated to property tax relief. In 2008, about $486.3 million in revenue from the riverboat wagering tax was directed to property tax relief. Revenue growth looms large in Indiana as the wagering tax has become a major source of funding for the state's property tax relief program. Gaming markets in many states that legalized casino gaming in the 1990s have matured, so the days of extremely robust annual revenue growth may be on the wane. This article considers and investigates the future growth potential of the state's wagering taxes. Senior Fiscal/Program Analyst, Office of Fiscal and Management Analysis, Indiana Legislative Services Agency Get PDF of this article Future Casino Tax Yields: What Recent Trends in Casino Wagering and Attendance Suggest
