According to a statement released by the coordinator of machine operators, Anibal Villafañe, if House Bill 1142 is approved, which would increase the cost of licenses from US$100 to US$3,000, the government will also fail to reap the US$80m it expects to
"There is no way in which operators can pay the licenses of each machine at that price. The increase included in the project will be impossible to satisfy,” Villafañe said. He went onto say that the project proposed by Governor Ricardo Rosselló "is not in line with the economic situation of Puerto Rico and is another attempt to harm our entertainment machine industry. The expected projections following the approval of the project are false, ridiculous and out of all budgetary reality,” he said.
According to Villafañe, this is the second time in less than 60 days that the Executive has tried to push the bill through the Legislature, which he said "contains serious errors and excessive increases,” for the licenses of all types of gaming machines.
The Gaming Division of The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) regulates all administrative processes regarding licensing, franchise concession, supervision, and management of gaming operations in Puerto Rico.
Casino revenue is a vital source of funding for the PRTC as well as the biggest state university on the island. Under present
Source: GMB / G3 Newswire
