Nevada’s coffers may be filled with revenue from the world’s oldest profession if state Senator Bob Coffin has his way.

Coffin, a Democrat from Las Vegas, has proposed a $5-per-session tax on prostitution that he says could raise approximately $2 million a year in revenue for the state. The state’s brothels volunteered to be taxed prior to the start of the legislative session, but Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley declined the offer.

Coffin told the Las Vegas Sun that he had planned to propose applying the state’s live entertainment tax to prostitution, but decided against it. The state’s eight major brothels and 17 smaller ones would all be impacted by the tax. It is uncertain if the tax would apply to individual sex workers.

Though prostitution is often condemned, and many state officials would rather look to a more legitimate industry for its tax base, the business is legal in the state and as such should be expected to pay taxes. George Flint, a spokesman for the brothel industry, told the Sun that the businesses would likely support Coffin’s bill.

By Casino Connection Staff