I Say "Table Games," You See $$$

Racetrack officials may have to fall back and regroup after the House Finance Committee discussed demanding an even larger share of the potential proceeds from casino table games (the story is also here).

Gov. Joe Manchin had recently persuaded the tracks to double the tax on gross proceeds to 24 percent in the expected bill.

But House Finance members suggested today that the rate should be 34 percent, equal to what the tracks initially pay for their video lottery terminals.

Lottery Director John Musgrave, meanwhile, wants to see the tracks each pay $2.5 million a year for a table games license. Prior versions of the bill set no such fee.

UPDATE: The state Racing Association seeks to take the talk of a bigger take in stride.