As Tropicana Evansville drives toward its planned land-based casino, it's approaching a major checkpoint this month.

Before the project can proceed, the Indiana Gaming Commission must first approve two things: Tropicana's revised lease with the city of Evansville, and the casino's request to move from its riverboat to a land-based facility.

Both issues will be on the agenda at the commission's Feb. 24 meeting, which will take place in Indianapolis.

Last year, Indiana lawmakers passed legislation that enables casinos to move onto land if they choose. As that legislation is written, the Indiana Gaming Commission must approve a casino's move from riverboat to land.

Tropicana will be the first to go through the process. Casino representatives will be at the meeting to give a presentation to commission members, said Tropicana General Manager John Chaszar.

"This is the first casino to avail themselves of the new inland casino provision," said Sara Tait, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission. "We look forward to seeing the plans and seeing the presentation."

Chaszar said Tropicana attorneys have been in contact with the Gaming Commission about the casino's plans, so the meeting should go smoothly.

In November, Tropicana announced its plans to build a new $50 million land-based facility that would sit between its Tropicana and Le Merigot hotels on Riverside Drive.

That construction, though, will almost certainly require some demolition.

Tropicana's casino complex includes an executive conference center, which offers 11 meeting rooms and 20,000 total square feet of space. The center, which is adjacent to the Tropicana hotel, opened in 2004.

Though nothing is set in stone yet, Chaszar said, Tropicana's current plans include demolition of the "Maple" wing of its conference center. This area, which has an outside entrance to South Third Avenue, houses three smaller meeting rooms.

"Those meeting rooms are definitely in the middle of what we want to do," Chaszar said. "It was unfortunate we had to lose the space, but it's all in the best interest of our long-term plans."

The "Walnut" wing of the conference center will remain in operation, Chaszar said. This part of the property fronts Northwest First Street and contains a mix of larger and smaller rooms.

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