Nevada casinos efforts to avoid paying taxes on complimentary meals failed last week when the state Tax Commission ruled that such taxes were justified.
For several years, each casino in the state has filed for a rebate of the meals taxes paid for guests or employees, saying the taxes were unjustified because no money changed hands when the casino operators "comped" the meals.
In its 6-1 decision, the Tax Commission used a Nevada Supreme Court decision that said complimentary meals could be taxed if the casino meal was for "consideration." Union contracts, the commission noted, call for free meals for workers in many of the casinos while customers must pay to receive "comped" meals.
Observers speculated that the decision involved some $200 million in tax receipts.
GamingToday’s Micah Roberts went right back to the Oracle for a new Preakness pick and Jay Rood came up with his selection once he knew Union Rags was not headed to Pimlico.
An Internet gambling bill being considered by New Jersey lawmakers could allow Atlantic City’s casinos to take bets from people in other states or countries, although key details remain to be worked out.
The nation’s commercial casinos continued their slow-but-steady comeback from the recession last year, with revenues up 3 percent nationwide and jobs holding nearly steady, according to a report released Wednesday.
Revel, the $2.4 billion casino resort widely seen as Atlantic City’s best hope of survival, trailed most of its competition in its first month of operation, placing 8th out of the city’s 12 casinos.
New signs are up to direct visitors, the sidewalks have been power-washed, crosswalks have been freshly painted and 1,600 people have been hired to inaugurate the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland on Monday.
