Evening star., 1952-03-08
S1,243,6t1 Paid
Under New Tax
Income Running Far
Below Predictions
Made to Congress
Rx the Associated Pres.


The Government has tapped 49,
029 registered gamblers through
out the country for $1,243,611 in
taxes under the new gambling tax
law, the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau reported today.
And for the first full month Of
operation under the law-Decem-
ber-gamblers reported a take Of
1881. 1928. During January they
turned in tax of 10 per cent Of
this amount, bringing total tax
collection on gambling operations
to $970.964.
In addition, 2,725 gamblers reg
istered for the first time in jan
uary and paid their occupational
stamp tax. bringing the total to
16,029. Sale of stamps through
January brought in $484, ,428.87.
Income from gamblers is rum
ming far below the rate needed to
produce the $400 million a year
estimated as potential revenue by
congressional committees when
they proposed the new law.
Tax Stamp Costs $50.
The law clamping tax on
bookies. numbers and lottery OPP
orators, and punchboards-moSt
of these occupations are illegal
in most States-went into effect
November /, but gamblers had 80
days to take out stamps and
start paying 10 per cent OF their
take in taxes.
The tax stamp costs $50 for
a full year but the bill is reduced
fer a partial year.
Virginia had 46 new stamps
Gaken out in, January to bring its
total of registered gamblers to
1875. They have paid a total Of
1851 for their stamps. Virginia
gamblers reported a take Of $685.
826 and tax of 1882 for opera
tions during December-the first
payment in Virginia on the 10
per cent tax on wagering and
gambling.
The revenue district including
Maryland and the District of CO.
lumbia had nine gamblers to reg
lister in January, bringing the
total to 49. They have paid in
81. .304 for their occupational
stamps.
Total Here Is $3,554.
Their tax payments for opera
tions in December amounted to
| $2,534. Payments on November
Operations bring the total reported
so far for Maryland and the Dis
ltrict to 1854.
In Virginia only 81 of the 1875
registered gamblers reported some
business during the month. In
Maryland and the District Al OF
the 40 registered gamblers re-
ported their take for December.
The report showed that gamblers
have registered in all but three of
the Nations, GA revenue collection
districts-Lower Manhattan, Iowa
and Vermont.
But 81 gamblers registered in
the sixth Missouri district and II
in North Dakota have not re-
ported any business or paid any
excise tax yet.
Washington State Heads List.
Only two gamblers have reg
istered in New Mexico and Wis
consin, four in Nebraska, seven In
Maine, six in New Hampshire, nine
in Rhode Island, seven in South
Dakota.
Washington State, where some
lpunchboards are legal, leads the
list with 3,056 registered gamblers.
ALMOST one-flfth of the Nations
total. Illinois has 2,602 registered
gamblers, Montana 1858, Utah
i 1892 and Louisiana GIG.
But Louisiana gamblers appar.
emily are the most prosperous
they paid $167,987 in taxes on
their gambling take for part OF
November and Observation-Disclosures
ing total take of $1,679.870.
Lack New Agents.
Illinois is second in volume Of
reported business with $140.410 in
taxes and Ohio is third with $780,
247 covering operations through
December.
Government officials attribute
the relatively low collections to
two factors:
/. They haven't been able to
put on new agents to step up en-
Iforcement Of the law.
2. Because gamblers must dis
close their names and places Of
business when they register. many
of them are quitting rather than
get caught in a squeeze play be-