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Kentucky Launches Regulated Sports Betting Market with a Bang
Brighter Future For Indiana Gambling, Terre Haute Venue Still In Play
April 1, 2019 Aleksandra Zolotic
Inevitably accompanied with groundbreaking changes, but still heading in a positive direction, it seems that Indiana is even closer to casino regulation. The highlight of the regulations is…
…the proposal for one of the riverboat licenses from a harbor on Lake Michigan to relocate to a nearby land-based site. Senate Bill, 552, allowing a casino to move to Vigo County, arrived at the Indiana House committee by unanimous vote. Still, there are a plethora of details yet to discuss with the whole procedure going in a positive direction.
Gambling in Vigo County – Will it Happen?
One of the most crucial topics to discuss was added to the ballot for the 2019 general election. That’s the Amendment 60 which reintroduces the language for a referendum by Vigo County voters. The main subject it deals with is the question:
“Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Vigo Country?”
During the meeting, they also debated the $50 million fee to move the license to Vigo County. However, lawmakers in Indiana made a decision to delegate the topic for the next House to take up the Bill. Once all these details become clear, a competitive bidding process will be held to…
…determine who would operate the Vigo County venue.
Terre Haute Still In The Bill
Senator, Jon Ford, is positive that the outcome will be favorable towards approval since Terre Haute is still in the game. He commented:
“The positive takeaway is that Terre Haute is once again in the bill and that we continue to move ahead to another day.”
He also pointed out that the biggest obstacle regarding regulations was the Public Policy Committee in Indiana, adding that he’s glad it’s all clear now.
“The committee makeup is very interesting, and this is where you would do the amending of the structure of the legislation. And, in that, they could have taken Terre Haute out easily.”
Several Changes In Amendments and Language
The first among many striking changes is a mandatory fee of $100 million, in case Spectacle Entertainment LLC wants to move one of two Gary licenses inland from the Lake Michigan harbor. In case they want to relocate both of them…
…one would go to Gary, the other to Terre Haute.
Besides a fee, Spectacle would have to surrender one of two recently acquired Majestic Star licenses to the Indiana Gaming Commission.
This Amendment also strikes all language regarding mobile sports wagering. Additional ones, number 50 and 65 were adopted as well. The first one would establish a way to deposit tax revenue attributable to sports betting in Marion County into their local housing trust fund. The other one, number 65, would create charity gaming licenses for veterans and fraternal organizations. This should raise money for the philanthropic causes which any of the mentioned organizations .
Source:
“Casino Bill clears House , but with big changes”, Alex Modesitt, tribstar.com, March 27, 2019.
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Discussing these sensitive laws in public is a two-edged sword. At the same time, the public finds out both some good and some bad details as well. Anyway, without the intention to be pessimistic, let us wait and see how the proposals and changes work.