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Toronto Contemplates Gambling Tax

The city of Toronto is considering levying a new tax on slot machines and other gambling devices. A story in the National Post daily newspaper broke the news that the Ontario city is giving thought to imposing a tax on not only slot games, but lottery tickets and entry to the Woodbine horseracing track. Not surprisingly, this news has caused all sorts of turbulence in the Canadian city’s large and lucrative gambling industry.

Although the city’s mayor David Miller blew off rumors of a gambling tax as “not a priority,” a recent report from the City Council seemed to indicate that town leaders are devoting plenty of time to discussing the matter. Councilor Cesar Palacio of Davenport is supposedly one of the biggest proponents of a tax on slots and other sorts of gambling. Palacio said in an interview that the city had “everything to gain” from such a levy, and declared that he thought a tax on gambling spending was a much better idea than the land transfer and vehicle tax that Mayor Miller had approved last year.

Obviously, Toronto’s gambling industry is not behind the measure at all. Representatives of the Woodbine racetrack and racino are furious at the thought that any winnings from their slot machines – the only ones in Toronto – might be taxed. Vice President of Corporate Affairs Jane Holmes brought up the fact that such a levy just might drive players away and make them willing to drive further away to other casinos like the Niagara or Ajax, where they would not be taxed.

Back to October 2008 Archive.