On January 6, Superior Court Judge Joseph Marczyk asked the state of New Jersey to consider mediation in a lawsuit filed by Atlantic County over the state’s decision to remove sports betting and iGaming revenues from the formula to determine what casinos will pay in lieu of property taxes, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The state turned down mediation, sending the suit to trial. “I believe his exact words were that it would be ‘prudent’ to mediate, which the county is willing to do,” said County Executive Dennis Levinson.
“We are going to try to get a settlement that is in the best interests of everyone,” Levinson said, “because the new PILOT, the way it is written, is only in the best interests of the casinos.”
The county seeks to overturn the legislation as it violates a Consent Order of Settlement to which both parties agreed to in open court in June 2018, according to Insider NJ.
In related news, New Jersey lawmakers are pondering legislation to redirect some sports betting taxes to the city of Atlantic City for property tax relief.
The bill, introduced by State Senator Troy Singleton, would use the 1.25 percent tax on sports betting that currently goes to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to market and promote Atlantic City.
“This would be a huge win for the taxpayers of Atlantic City, who would finally be able to benefit from the sports betting that is going on in their city,” said Mayor Marty Small Sr.
