Controversy has been brewing in the Australian state of New South Wales regarding the taxation of video poker profits. As video poker is very popular “down under," the local government is naturally interested in taking a piece of the pie for themselves, in the form of tax revenues. The tax is not popular with members of Clubs New South Wales, a local organization of clubs, many of which own the heavily patronized video poker machines.

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has attempted to pacify the video poker lobby with “a generous, reasonable and affordable offer," of various reductions on the tax. George Souris, the gaming spokesman for the government's Opposition, downplayed the long-term effect of the proposed tax concession, saying that it was “small money indeed at the low end of the scale." Souris was unsettled at the fact that the government's offer only involved decreasing the egregiously high level of a tax hike on video poker, instead of gradually phasing it out altogether.

Many state welfare programs are poised to bear the brunt of the video poker tax decrease, with projected shortfalls in operating budgets. This might potentially lead to across-the-board slashes in many welfare programs, according to the New South Wales Council of Social Service.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Sunday, 11 December 2005