Indiana casinos have a $3 admissions tax per person?!

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12965129/6/these-are-the-top-10-gambling-states-in-america.html

so gamblers pay $3 for the ability to play -EV games?
sheesh...

isn't Indiana the state that created a temporary 1% increase in income tax (or was it sales tax)?
then the next year they created ANOTHER temporary 1% tax increase while not letting the previous one expire?

I don't think they actually charge everybody $3 to get in the door.

Of course, the money has to come from somewhere; I have a feeling those -EV games are a little more -EV than they would be without the tax.

I believe the casinos are required to pay the state $3 for each patron. i don't believe the patrons are required to pay the casinos $3.

I went to the Horseshoe in Hammond IN two years ago with the wife.

I would have remembered paying $3 to get in - or at least remembered hearing the wife bitch about it.

Bottom line: we didn't pay anything to get in.

ah.. ok. thx.

wonder what effect (if any) the $3/person fee had on casino promos?
and on AP players?

I've been to every casino in Indiana, most more than once. I've never paid to get in.

Quote: DRich

I believe the casinos are required to pay the state $3 for each patron. i don't believe the patrons are required to pay the casinos $3.

You're absolutely right. The casinos pay out on behalf of the patrons. There are electric eyes for a rough admission count. Illinois and Missouri also charge these fees, so I'm totally used to this. So if someone had nothing better to do and wants to stick it to the casino for a few bucks out of principle, walk in, spend nothing, and walk out.

http://www.ncsl.org/research/financial-services-and-commerce/casino-tax-and-expenditures-2013.aspx

Quote: tringlomane

You're absolutely right. The casinos pay out on behalf of the patrons. There are electric eyes for a rough admission count. Illinois and Missouri also charge these fees, so I'm totally used to this. So if someone had nothing better to do and wants to stick it to the casino for a few bucks out of principle, walk in, spend nothing, and walk out.

http://www.ncsl.org/research/financial-services-and-commerce/casino-tax-and-expenditures-2013.aspx

Interesting. I guess it all makes sense, now. I stayed at Harrah's Joliet earlier this year. In addition to the main entrance, they also have an exit on the hotel side of the casino. When I was leaving the casino to go my room, I was asked if I wanted a "hand-stamp" to return to the casino.

I remember thinking that the hand-stamp thing was odd and declined. I don't care much for hand-stamps, and not having one didn't stop me from re-entering through the main entrance. I'm guessing now they were trying to save themselves the $3 or whatever if I were to return later that day.

Now, if they would offer to comp me a buck or two to get stamped, I might consider it. It would be a win-win, right? :)

Quote: Joeman

I remember thinking that the hand-stamp thing was odd and declined. I don't care much for hand-stamps, and not having one didn't stop me from re-entering through the main entrance. I'm guessing now they were trying to save themselves the $3 or whatever if I were to return later that day.

Now, if they would offer to comp me a buck or two to get stamped, I might consider it. It would be a win-win, right? :)

Not sure how old you are, but my g/f has been offered that stamp before and she's 30. Because Illinois is also the most anal state I've dealt with for IDs. When you get carded, they make you stare into the security camera while your ID gets scanned. I usually don't try to sneak through the main entrance even at 34. I always get asked for ID.

This secret head-tax buried somewhere in the statutes/regulations is just a way for the state to guarantee itself a bit off the top. It probably affects any talent the casino might bring in since bands or acts in the bar or stage area might have to pay as well. Customers would object to a three dollar entrance fee even amortized against eight hours of gambling so the politicians just get their money on the sly and tell the casino operator to rip people off for an extra three bucks.

Quote: tringlomane

Not sure how old you are, but my g/f has been offered that stamp before and she's 30. Because Illinois is also the most anal state I've dealt with for IDs. When you get carded, they make you stare into the security camera while your ID gets scanned. I usually don't try to sneak through the main entrance even at 34. I always get asked for ID.

Either I'm old enough or looked old enough not to get carded. The hand-stamp offer was upon exiting. I assumed it was for hassle-free re-entry (which wasn't a hassle for me), but now I think it might have been for "tax-free" re-entry, so to speak.