With Deadline Nearing, Negotiations Continue For Sports Wagering, Terre Haute Casino

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 8:36 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

Lawmakers must finalize an Indiana sports betting and casino gaming legislation by midnight Wednesday.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - An agreement is close on a casino gaming and sports betting bill at the Indiana Statehouse.

State Senator Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) said Monday that there has been progress on the bill, but some minor details still need to be worked out in conference committee.

Provisions of Senate Bill 552 were rolled into House Bill 1015, a bill previously dealing only with indemnity agreements, on Monday. Because the gaming legislation creates new revenue for the state, it must originate in a House bill.

“We always knew we’d have to move the tax provisions of 552 into a House bill," Messmer said.

The gaming bill would legalize sports betting in Indiana. A provision allowing sports betting on mobile phones and devices has been reinserted into the legislation. The Senate-passed version of SB 552 allowed for mobile bets, but House lawmakers opted to remove it fearing it was too large of an expansion of betting in Indiana and would provide minors with access to betting.

Casinos could be approved to host sports books starting July 1 of this year. Casinos would pay a 9.5 percent tax rate on revenue from sports wagering.

Sports betting would be available to the public starting in September.

The bill would also allow the Indiana Gaming Commission to hold a competitive bidding process for a company to operate a new casino in Terre Haute. Vigo County voters would first have to approve of a casino at the ballot box.

Rising Star Casino owner Full House Resorts has expressed strong interest in competing for the Terre Haute casino opportunity.

Likewise, Spectacle Entertainment is eyeing Terre Haute. The legislation would allow the company which owns the two casinos on Lake Michigan in Gary to claim a $40 million tax credit for giving up one of the casino licenses, while paying $20 million license fee to build a new, large, inland casino near a busy highway.

The surrendered Gary license would transfer to Terre Haute.

Another provision of HB 1015 is expected to have a negative impact on southeastern Indiana casinos. Horsetrack racinos in Anderson and Shelbyville would be allowed to have live dealer table games such as black jack and roulette starting in 2020. A law passed a few years ago had put that date in 2021. Debate is ongoing over whether the live table dealers would be allowed starting January 1 or July 1 in 2020.

The agreed bill also contains tax rate reductions for all Indiana casinos.

HB 1015 must be finalized by votes in both the House and Senate, then sent to Governor Eric Holcomb by midnight Wednesday.

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