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St. Charles officials are once again delaying a proposed tax tied to video gaming machines, opting to wait until ongoing court cases around the state are resolved before moving forward.
Tax delayed again: The City Council agreed to push the effective date back to December 31, 2026, continuing a pattern of extensions that began after the ordinance was first approved in 2022.
Legal uncertainty: City staff said unresolved lawsuits and unclear rules at the state level still make it risky to enforce the tax right now.
Potential revenue: City estimates have pegged the tax at roughly $300K per year if and when it’s eventually implemented.
Who pays: The tax would be charged per play on gaming terminals and passed along to players, with operators allowed to decide how it’s collected.
City officials remain split on the idea, and the extra time gives the city a chance to see how the courts rule before deciding how to approach the policy.
Read more in this Shaw Local article.
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