Puerto Rican casinos asked to bring us$ 100 million of their winnings to the state

Puig said that if the gaming industry estímate in us$ 180 million the losses that they wouyld have in case the slots activity was regulated by law; now that the proposal was withdrawn, the casinos might bring us$ 100 million to balance the Puerto Rican public accounts.
 
"Here there have been public expressions of the casino industry in which they allegad that they would lose us$ 180 million of video lottery was implemented. If it is not implemented, it means that they will not lose them”, said the Secretary of Economy.

Puig pointed that the gaming industry will surely be willing to "bring us$ 100 million of those 180 million to bring them to the state" and have an additional collection witt out increasing contributions.

The government of Luis Fortuño withrew last May the bill destínated to regulate slot machines in the Caribbean Island, and that, according to estimations of the government, was going to generate us$ 220 million a year in taxes.

The government intended to rule an activity that had no control for years, with round 120,000 slots in the country, of which, according to the government, justo 8000 are legal.

The hotel union -in Puerto Rico the casinos are Locatel in hotels- was opposed from the beginning to the Project, alleging that thousands of their employees wwould lose their jobs if the activity was regulated, because it would discourage clients to assist to gambling venues.