Quoted from Guidotorpedo:But.... then you have big FEC’s like d&b, round 1, main event, that work these dumb fees into their business model and pay them, so they have no chance of being repealed. Check out some of the fees in md. I’m glad I’m not in the vending part of this business anymore.
Baltimore county:
$200 per year operator license, $225 per game per year permit, $50 per game “placement” fee (which you’re supposed to pay every time you swap a game to get another permit printed).
Baltimore city:
$200 per year operator license, $180 per game/year permit
Anne Arundel county:
$2000 (no I didn’t miss a zero, that’s thousand) annual operator license. $100 per game fee. Location is allowed up to 8 games. If location has more than 8 games, they must pay the arcade license instead, which is $5000 (thousand). Crabtowne pays the $5000 every year.
Carroll county:
$75 per machine per year. Plus $1 “handling” fee (the $1 always made me laugh lol)
Cecil county
$125 per machine per year (you know, they have to make money off all the cows and horses)
Washington county
$125 per machine (they have to tax all the meth heads and Steelers fans)
These permits are all enforced, either by LCB or by the respective county’s code enforcement division. Washington county will unplug your games on first offense. Anne arundel warns you first, then CONFISCATES them. Baltimore county warns you first, then fines you per day.
This does not include excise tax charged on income by the state in most jurisdictions, which is up to 10% of GROSS income.
Maryland sucks a fat turd.
It always makes me sad when I am in Baltimore and see how few places have pinball. That market is ripe for location pinball, but the fee cost is a burden for most, i'm sure. Hats off to Holy Frijoles for playing the game.