INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb
isn't yet showing his cards on whether he plans to sign into law a
gaming measure that's poised to usher in perhaps the biggest changes to
the state's casino industry since riverboat gambling first was legalized
in 1993.
The Republican
chief executive told reporters Monday in his Statehouse office that he's
still reviewing the provisions of House Enrolled Act 1015 that last
week was approved 59-36 by the Republican-controlled House, and 37-12 by
the Republican-controlled Senate.
"I
want to learn more on the gaming bill," Holcomb said. "This all
happened quickly at the end of session, as happens when you're making
sausage in this building and there's an expire date on it."
Holcomb
said nothing in particular raises a red flag for him relating to the
gaming measure. Nor did he say that he's inclined to veto the
legislation.
Indeed, over three
legislative sessions, Holcomb only has vetoed a single proposal: a 2017
measure that would have imposed a search fee for public records
requests in violation of Holcomb's "Five Pillars" commitment to
government transparency.
Concerning
the gaming measure, the governor insisted that with such high stakes
for Indiana, gaming operators, casino communities and, frankly, all
Hoosiers, he wants to be sure that he fully understands exactly what is
on the table.
"My first and last thought is the impact it has on taxpayers and on our citizens, both short-term and long-term," Holcomb said.
"I want to make sure the state of
Indiana is the winner, and for me to be sure of that I have to read the
bill word-for-word and I'm not there yet."
The
gaming legislation authorizes the relocation of Gary's Majestic Star
casinos to a land-based site, likely adjacent to the Borman Expressway,
and legalizes sports wagering, including on mobile devices.
Spectacle
Entertainment, the Majestic Star owner, is required to pay a $20
million fee to the Indiana Gaming Commission as a condition of moving
and consolidating its two casino boats into a single inland facility.
The
company also must give up the second Gary gaming license as a condition
of moving, and is subject to a second $20 million fee if it sells the
new Gary casino to another operator within five years of receiving state
regulatory approval to relocate.
Under
the plan, the new Gary casino can have up to 2,764 gambling games to
match the maximum combined gaming positions offered at the two Majestic
Star boats, instead of limiting the inland casino to the gaming capacity
of a single boat.
It also
"holds-harmless" Region casino communities if their gaming tax revenue
is negatively impacted by the Gary casino move, opens the door for a new
Terre Haute casino and reduces wagering tax rates for all casinos.