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Knox County May Gamble on Video Betting
The county's general fund could become considerably richer if officials act appropriately on video gambling.

On first reading Wednesday night, the Knox County Board deliberated whether to completely ban betting machines or further tax them with a permit fee. The general consensus seemed to favor the latter, but there were still questions.

"This is not like a tax that's going to be imposed on everybody?" District-Two Democrat Paul Stewart asked.

"No, just the person playing the machines," Board Chairman Greg Bacon answered. Stewart added, "That's voluntary."

"Do we have to buy the machines themselves or the establishments," questioned Bill Abel, a District-Two Republican.

"The vendor buys the machines and licenses them to the establishments," Bacon said.

Bacon fielded concerns from board members Stewart, Abel and others. District-One Republican Rollie Paulsgrove agreed with Stewart, stating it's a voluntary tax he supports.

And it's no cost at all to the county, Bacon says, to continue allowing any video gambling in unincorporated liquor establishments. He says the proposed $25 machine permit fee paired with a 5% tax on earnings could yield future revenues of $100,000-dollars.

The board did not take action on this measure Wednesday evening, but they did approve a resolution revising its liquor control ordinance. Major changes include waiving a fee to sell alcohol on Sundays and allowing sales to begin that day at 7am.
07 26 12 by Newsroom
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