Sports gambling in Arizona is on the rise, with $849 million wagered in December alone. However, the state is only seeing $2.6 million in revenue from privilege fees, sparking concerns among critics about Arizona taxpayers missing out on potential benefits.
Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, believes that while legalized gambling is not a problem, the state should be benefiting more from the multi-billion dollar sports betting industry. With tax rates significantly lower than other states, including neighboring New York and Massachusetts, Humble and other critics argue that Arizona gave operators a sweetheart deal when legalizing sports betting in 2021.
Humble suggests that raising licensing fees, which are currently only $150,000 a year, could help generate more revenue for state programs such as education and healthcare. The Arizona Department of Gaming, however, has stated that any adjustments to licensing fees would require a formal rulemaking process and stakeholder input, and no changes are currently being considered.
As more people turn to sports gambling, the debate over tax rates and revenue generated from the industry will likely continue. Critics like Humble believe that changes need to be made to ensure that Arizona taxpayers are not missing out on potential benefits from the growing sports betting market.
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