Win Big at the Casino? Strongsville Will Take a Cut

Just in time for the opening of a casino in downtown Cleveland, City Council has voted to collect municipal income taxes on gambling jackpots.

Anyone who wins $600 or more at the new casino -- or any other gambling establishment, for that matter -- must now pay 2 percent to Strongsville.

"A lot of communities in the area are doing it," Law Director Ken Kraus said. "It's a revenue enhancement."

It's not a new concept. Strongsville and most other northeast Ohio cities already tax lottery winnings. But council this week expanded its legislation to not only apply to jackpots from lotteries in which Ohio participates but to any "gambling or sports winnings, games of chance and/or awards of $600 or more."

"If a resident goes to a casino and wins $600 or more, they'll owe, in addition to state and federal taxes, 2 percent to Strongsville," Kraus said.

Council passed the measure 6-0 Monday. Councilman at large Patrick Coyne was absent from the meeting.

Kraus said the amendment was made here and in other communities in preparation for the opening of a casino in Cleveland.

"There's going to be expanded gambling here, and a number of people already go out of state to gamble," he said.