Riverboat Casinos to Move Inland with Senate Backing

Riverboat Casinos are now moving inland!

Riverboat casinos in Indiana would be permitted to move inland, under a state Senate approved bill. Marketing for casinos receive a tax break with this bill, as well. The bill was passed 36-13.

A possible deal breaker for the House, is the delay in live dealers for five years. The House had previously passed a bill in February, for the use of live dealers immediately. These live dealers would manage table games at state casinos in Shelbyville, and Anderson that are horse track based. Gov. Mike Pence might possibly think of this as an expansion. He is opposed to anything he conceives to be an expansion, when it comes to gambling. He has not been specific publicly about what he possibly will do, however. But live dealers are a no-go, according to lawmakers.

On Thursday, Sen. Tim Lanane stated it would be silly, live dealers would be a “substitution” not expansion. The bill will “replace that computer chip with live people.” He also states, “hundreds of jobs would be created.” With no idea how much change can happen within the five year wait, he believes holding them jobs off risky. How the economy stands with unemployment, jobs are needed.

Centaur Gaming has had hopes for the power to have live dealers, at the Shelbyville and Anderson racetrack casinos. Casinos and racinos in Indiana, are losing some of their business to the competition that is increasing in the states surrounding them. Lawmakers want to be able to help them. State and gambling operations are losing revenue with the casinos in Ohio, and Illinois’s tavern based gambling.

The revised bill, attempts to balance the Indiana gambling industries needs. That includes two race track based casinos, nine riverboat casinos, and one conventional casino. Passage of the bill in encouraged, because gambling is an industry where thousands of Hoosiers are employed. One-third of residents in Indiana, use it for entertainment purposes.

The bill is also calling for a study by a special committee, on the tax system for the 13 casinos by the state.

Senate and House negotiators will have to agree on a version that is final, by April 29th.