Representative Kerry Benninghoff of House District 171 introduced skill games legislation earlier this week that does not include an additional tax on the games.
Benninghoff wrote a memo in April indicating that a proposal was coming without a “special” tax. That is a wildly different approach, as several lawmakers, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, are calling for a tax as high as 52%.
HB 1619 would grandfather in all existing skill game machines. The tax structure on the games has been a point of contention. There have been rates proposed at 16%, 35%, and 52%.
Benninghoff’s bill goes in a different direction: “No additional taxes or fees, including amusement taxes, shall be imposed on the placement or operation of a skill game or on the revenue generated by a skill game terminal unless specifically authorized under this act.”
