The 1 percent sales tax at Foxwoods apparently has the attention of the Connecticut AG for some reason (Indianz report here). The concerns seem to be based in the accounting of the tax, and really just a way for this troubling AG (Blumenthal) to get in the papers.

But tribal sales taxes at Indian casinos imposed on the largely non-Indian customer base is an important and real expression of tribal sovereignty. But largely because of numerous Supreme Court decisions like Wagnon, Cotton Petroleum, and Moe, the states get most of the money from the on-reservation tribal tax base. Moe says tribes have to collect sales taxes from non-Indians purchasing tobacco products in Indian Country. Cotton Petroleum says that tribal taxes don’t preempt states taxes imposed on non-Indians doing business in Indian Country, allowing state taxes to economically trump tribal taxes. As does Wagnon.

The one percent tax added on to the state sales tax at Foxwoods is an economic representation of the tribal tax base in stark forms. The state gets 6 percent of tribal sales, and the tribe (if its lucky) can tack on an additional 1 percent. What does the state have to do for this money? Absolutely nothing. They already get 25 percent of the net win in Connecticut. Because of these very unfair Supreme Court decisions, AG Blumenthal can wax politic about sales taxes that are pure windfalls to his state.