STATESIDE
Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas-on the Fremont Street Experience. The first new casino constructed since 1980.
employer have protection against annual audits.” Gaming has dramatically changed and expanded in 23 years. In the early 1990s, multistate casino operations, whether commercial, tribal or on riverboats, were in their infancy. During those years, Trump actively participated in his own casinos’ management and understands the problem. This year, gaming issues are often national…not just regional. The Casino Tax and Tips Act of 2025’s key provisions center on an annual deduction of up to $25,000 on earned tips for traditional service occupations. These include restaurant servers, bartenders, golf caddies, hotel and salon workers, plus parking valets. This could motivate better customer service, benefi ting everyone. Many economists agree with the plan if the federal tax deduction for cash tips is capped and there is strict compliance with the rules. An executive order would be immediate, but federal legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump is the only way to make these changes permanent. Trump’s campaign mantra was “promises made, promises kept.” This will be a biggie if it comes to fruition.
Sharon Harris
ever, but I don’t remember any president ever hobnobbing with customers on, of all places, a casino fl oor.
American Gaming Association’s (AGA) President/ CEO Bill Miller touted the signifi cance of Trump’s Las Vegas visit. If any president would understand the signifi cance of gaming to the U.S. economy, Trump does. The Trump organization also owned or managed casinos in Atlantic City, Coachella, California and Gary, Indiana for years. Miller said, “Today’s event is a testament to the president’s commitment to making sure that the tax code not only encourages job creation, but also ensures workers keep more of their hard-earned money…President Trump’s tremendous support for the gaming industry during his fi rst term was unprecedented…”
The tax on tips issue is not new. From the early 1990s to 2002, Nevada’s tax rates were continuously “tweaked,” but had become unsatisfactory to almost everyone.
In 2002, the IRS proposed that Nevada’s gaming employees pay an increased tax rate. Nevada’s two senators negotiated a voluntary nationwide Gaming Tip Compliance Agreement for workers. The three-way program among the IRS, employers and employees established set tip rates-based on the shift and type of work-for all Nevada gaming workers who received gratuities.
Former American Gaming Association (AGA) CEO/President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. called the deal a win-win for all parties. He said, “The federal government has a guarantee of income and saves time and energy. Both the employees and the
Sharon has worked in the casino and coin-operated amusement industries since the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Sharon transferred her public relations and journalism skills to the gaming industry. She wrote her fi rst feature for Casino International predecessor EUROSLOT magazine in 1994.
As Associate Editor, North America for Casino International, Sharon has chronicled the explosive growth of U.S. gaming and reported on its most signifi cant changes. She has traveled across America to
participate in dozens of industry events and has interviewed hundreds of gaming operators, executives and suppliers.
BMM qp strip CI
Feb25.indd 1
13/2/25 10:48
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
