Legislators are pushing for a bill next year to prevent casinos from cutting into payouts to charities by imposing rental fees.
Under the state’s charitable gaming laws, casinos are currently allowed to charge charities rent for designated gaming days. At the same time, the law says the charities are to receive 35% of the casino revenue. The rental fees, in some cases, take half of the money the charity should have received.
The amounts being paid out and charged as rent are significant. Since the legalization of charitable gaming in 2006, the industry has experienced significant growth with establishments like The Brook in Seabrook, a Las Vegas-style casino, raking in at least $1 million in gross revenue every month.