Resort association launches Web site to combat Neal's casino tax

SPARKS - Nevada's gambling industry has launched a new Web site on the Internet to help combat state Sen. Joe Neal's proposed tax on the state's richest casinos.

Officials for the Nevada Resort Association, the lobbying arm of the state's casinos, created the site ''to educate the public about the gaming industry in Nevada.''

The site (www.nevadaresorts.org) features statements against the ballot initiative petition drive by Neal, D-North Las Vegas, which would raise the gross gaming tax on the state's wealthiest casinos from 6.25 to 11.25 percent to benefit several state programs.

''If he is successful, the ramifications would be devastating to the gaming industry, Nevada's number one employer and taxpayer,'' the Web site reads.

One link called ''Why the Neal campaign is wrong for Nevada'' offers charts and statistics that dispute Neal and his supporters' claims that the casino industry doesn't pay its fair share of taxes.

Other links display the gaming industry's contributions to Nevada and articles written on the Neal petition.

Bill Bible, president of the association and former chairman of Nevada Gaming Commission, said the site provides information on the gaming industry and the impact it has on the state's citizens.

''The Internet has become an increasingly important medium to acquire information on a vast array of subjects,'' Bible told the Sparks Tribune.

Neal has his own site (www.joeneal.org), which offers information on the petition and reasons why the senator thinks taxes should be raised on casinos.

Neal told the newspaper the association's site is misleading and contains personal attacks against him.

''This appears to be the first time in Nevada history that the gambling industry has produced a Web site exclusively about one public official,'' Neal said.

''Their site is an attempt to mislead the public concerning the casino industry not paying its fair share for the growth it causes and from which it benefits. I think people will see through this.''

Neal said Nevada has one of the most regressive tax structures in the nation which he believes penalizes the low wage employees who must rely on government assistance.

''This is why communities all over the state, including Sparks, are proposing new taxes in attempts to fill the void,'' he said.