According to a report from G3Newswire, the new tax endorsed by state governor Jaime Rodriguez Calderon came into effect last month and is part of recently-introduced gambling reforms that local officials hope will bring in up to USD 46.8 million a year to help pay down the state’s deficit and fund a special security program.
However, critics reportedly fear that the December duty could put as many as 10,000 jobs at risk with the Mexican Gaming Association recently estimating that around 70% of the income generated by casinos and betting shops in the state comes from seniors.
Carlos Valles from the Union Of Amusement Center And Casino Workers has also reportedly asked the local government for its support in re-opening casinos closed in the city of Monterrey with the loss of 3,000 jobs before Calderon’s election in 2015. He explained that instituting all three of his requests would see the state of 5.1 million people benefit to the tune of around USD 32.8 million a year.
