Despite that, changes to the state's gaming law that allows casinos to keep a greater percentage of their gross revenue means that did not translate to greater local gaming taxes. The six-month pandemic shutdown in 2020 contributed to the shortfall, however, all four casinos saw gross gaming revenues that exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2022, according to DiNapoli. But in the larger host city of Schenectady, and the four host counties, gaming tax accounted for just 1-3% of their total revenue.Ĭasino taxes generally only amounted to 0.5% of the total revenue in regional, non-host counties. In the three smaller host towns, Nichols, Tyre and Thompson, gaming revenue made up 30-60% of total revenue, which allowed them to significantly cut property taxes. Local governments did benefit, however, despite the shortfall in collections. The only exception was Tioga Downs in the Southern Tier. These revenues and tax contributions have continued to lag three years later, only reaching 50-60% of expectations, DiNapoli says. They are not a sure bet.”Īccording to DiNaopli's 2020 report, all four of the state's current casinos - del Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, Resorts World Catskills in Thompson and Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols - fell short of the projected gross revenue on which local taxes are levied. It’s my hope that this report gives state and local officials a clearer perspective that can help potential host communities avoid the pitfalls that arise with misguided expectations about the public benefits of casinos.

“While casinos have generated local gaming tax revenue, the impacts vary for the communities that receive such revenues. “Casinos are not a magic fix that will solve local fiscal challenges,” DiNapoli said. However, only the three smaller towns that host the casinos saw a significant financial benefit from that money. A new report from New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli shows the state's four licensed casinos have brought in $176 million in gaming tax revenue for local governments from 2017 to 2022.

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