Indiana Senate advances casino relocation bill
The Indiana Senate is considering a bill to relocate a casino license to northeast Indiana, avoiding an increase in statewide gaming licenses.Summary
The Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced House Bill 1038, significantly amended to convert an unused horse racing license into a full casino license for northeast Indiana. Proponents argue this avoids increasing the total number of gaming licenses in the state, while requiring a $150 million license fee and at least $500 million in capital investment. The bill also establishes a distressed casino fund to aid communities affected by casino closures. Concerns were raised by Sen. Liz Brown regarding the potential for continually relocating struggling casinos, comparing it to a “whack-a-mole” scenario. Sen. Aaron Freeman plans an amendment to potentially include Marion County in the consideration. The bill now moves to the full Senate for further debate and amendments, with a final passage deadline of February 27th.
(Source：Indianapolis Post)