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The following article is provided by the Caesar Rodney Institute, a Delaware-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) public policy research organization.

It comes from a Policy Center Director who works to help Delawareans by providing fact-based analysis in four key areas:

education, energy and environmental policy, the economy and government spending, and health policy.

Casinos in Delaware

  • CRI
  • Nov 28, 2018
  • 1 min read

In 1994 the State of Delaware made a successful bet on legalized gambling. Legislation authorized three horse racing tracks (now racinos) to build casinos for slot machines, which the State designated as video lottery terminals due to constitutional restrictions. Operations began in 1995 and revenues from slots and numbers lotteries are now the states fourth largest source of revenue. Gambling revenue to the state represents a voluntary payment of taxes. Unlike income and business taxes that entail significant penalties for non-payment, gambling and excise taxes are voluntary payments. No one is required to drink alcohol, smoke, drive or gamble. If a person chooses to enjoy any of these activities, the price paid includes a tax. Politicians love voluntary tax payments.



 
 
 

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About the Caesar Rodney Institute
The Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI) is a Delaware-based, nonprofit 501(c)(3) research organization. As a nonpartisan public policy think tank, CRI provides fact-based analysis in four key areas: education, energy and environmental policy, the economy and government spending, and health policy.

Our mission is to educate and inform Delawareans-including citizens, legislators, and community leaders-on issues that affect quality of life and opportunity.

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