State Losing Out More Than $100 Million

According to the Abell Foundation Report, thousands of video poker machines in Baltimore, remain unchecked. Team lead investigator, Jayne Miller reported that Baltimore machine operators are under reporting more than $100 million in income. This amounts to an underpaying of taxes to the tune of $15 million a year by way of amusement taxes. Montgomery county delegate Peter Franchot, has summoned the concerned person, William Donald Schafer, from the office of the Comptroller. Franchot has said that he would challenge Schafer in the November election. He is working on a new legislation that requires the state comptroller to account for unlicensed poker machines. The bill is also directed towards stringent tax collection from these machines. However, a Schafer representative reported that the comptroller’s office does not have enough auditors, to regulate the industry. Thewbalchannel.com reports:
Franchot is seeking other legislative sponsors for his bill. The 11 News I-Team reported that several lawmakers have received campaign contributions from a key player in the video poker industry, John Vontran.