New Fee Will Limit Expansion

The public and the government seem to be at odds in Kota Kinabalu. Right now the slot machines that are operating are localized, and the amount of taxes that the establishments pay on the slots revenue is relatively small. So the government has come up with a solution to spread out the revenue the slots are brining in while discouraging more slot machines and gambling areas from springing up.

And though on the surface that plan sounds effective, the residents are unsure as to whether or not this will actually solve any problem at all. The citizens believe that the increase in taxes on the slot machines will just end up coming out of their pockets (and the pockets of serious slots addicts). Rather than paying the increase in taxes out of their revenue, many are concerned that the slot machines establishments will simply lower the payback percentage so that players are walking away with less.

But others do support this new system, and it does seem to be well thought out so that the gambling and slot machines addictions problems can be more effectively managed. Currently the local authorities are only charging the slot machines parlors and casinos RM2 per square foot of the area in which the slot machines operate. With the new regulations, the Local Government and Housing Assistant Minister plan to charge RM 3,000 per slot machine. The Minister, Edward Yong Oui Fah, commented that there are currently 445 slot machines in the state, and that the flat rate per slot machine means a huge increase in the monies going to the State, and to City Hall (that is the State Capitol and where the majority of the slot machines operate).

This proposal is currently under consideration in the State Government, and if this proposal does not pass, citizens can be assured that more will follow since many are eager to see the slot machines and gambling problems controlled.

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