gaming
Ranzenhofer announces proposal to lower tax rate for Batavia Downs
Press release:
New York State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer (R-C-I, Amherst) announced today that the Executive Budget proposes a lower tax rate for Batavia Downs. The proposal would provide $1.4 million in tax relief.
“The Executive Budget Proposal (EBP) is a first step to leveling the tax playing field for Batavia Downs," Ranzenhofer said. "Lowering the tax rate will make the local facility more competitive and ensure a fairer share of dollars are returned to taxpayers through our local governments.
"I will continue to advocate for establishing tax parity between Batavia Downs and other gaming facilities across the state."
The Executive Budget also eliminates mandated spending levels of 10 percent for marketing expenses and 4 percent for capital improvements. Under existing state law, the oldest nighttime harness track in the country pays one of the highest effective tax rates among gaming centers in the region.
In January, Senator Ranzenhofer introduced legislation (S7397) in the State Senate that would lower Batavia Down’s taxes paid to New York State by increasing the facility’s portion of net winnings from 35 percent to 41 percent. If enacted, the act would take effect on April 1, 2019.
Gaming Operation
- Batavia Downs -- FY 2017-18: Portion of Net Winnings (percent) = 35
EBP: Portion of Net Winnings (percent) = 37
- Vernon Downs -- FY 2017-18: Portion of Net Winnings (percent) = 41
EBP: Portion of New Winnings (percent) = 42
- Hamburg Gaming -- FY 2017-18: Portion of Net Winnings (percent) = 41
EBP: Portion of Net Winnings (percent) = 42
About Batavia Downs
Batavia Downs Gaming, operated by WROTB, is a standard bred racetrack and gaming facility. WROTB is a public benefit corporation – owned by 15 Western New York counties, including Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Wyoming, as well as the cities of Rochester and Buffalo. Since its inception, WROTB has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in operating and surcharge revenues to the residents of those participating municipalities.
Reform to charity gaming law an improvement, but not enough, says Hawley
With the passage of the new state budget, there is some relief for local charities looking to conduct raffles, according to Assemblyman Steve Hawley, but not all the reforms in the state gaming law that he would like to see.
Last year, many local charities, most particularly, volunteer fire departments, discovered their traditional fund-raising raffles were potentially in violation of state gaming laws, so most of the raffles were shut down.
Hawley introduced legislation aimed at making these charity raffles legal, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed the bill after it was passed by the Assembly and Senate.
This year, Cuomo included some reforms in his budget request and with passage of the budget, those reforms also passed.
The changes will allow charities to accept raffle payments by cash or check and to advertise the raffles on the Internet.
Charities will still be prohibited, however, from selling raffle tickets online.
"Those are the big changes and they will be somewhat helpful, but not (in) the place where I’d like to see it," Hawley said.
He is introducing legislation this session to try and get online ticket sales and credit card sales legal for charity raffles.
Interview with Assemblyman Steve Hawley conducted by our news partner, WBTA.
Batavia Downs Casino boasts newly expanded gaming floor, now with 640 machines
Press release:
Batavia Downs Casino is pleased to announce the opening of its newly expanded gaming floor. With construction complete, it now boasts 640 machines in the entire facility, up from just over 600.
The expanded gaming space, located at the rear of the facility, has 60 new machines including the popular “Wheel of Fortune Secret Spins” and additional “Sex and the City” gaming machines.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 with members of the Batavia Downs Casino staff.
The casino is part of the complex at Batavia Downs, home of America's oldest lighted harness-racing track. It is in owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation.
Municipalities that own Batavia Downs Casino include: the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, and the counties of Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Wyoming.
Batavia Downs Casino is located less than one mile from Thruway Exit 48 and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m.
