INDIANAPOLIS - Allowing the state’s casinos to move on land is one of those hot-button topics that seem to arise every year at the Indiana General Assembly.
Sometimes legislative efforts on land-based casinos die before debate can begin. Other times the issue pops up late in the legislative session when a lawmaker attempts to resurrect the issue.
But early indications show the policy debate of whether to allow casinos to shed their dock and move on land may take a new precedence during the 2015 legislative session. Lawmakers are looking to improve dismal tax collections from the state’s casinos and appear to be broadening on potential cures they’ll consider.
Probably one of the most telling comments to date is state Rep. Tom Dermody, a LaPorte Republican who chairs the Indiana House’s Public Policy Committee, saying he’s open to the discussion.
“Do we want them to replace the boat with another boat that doesn’t move on water or do we want to have the discussion to let them build on land when it’s time to replace the current boat,” Dermody told the Courier & Press this month.
One major hurdle likely remains – getting Gov. Mike Pence to come on board with allowing casinos to move on land. Operators of Tropicana Evansville want to move on land, but within the casino’s existing footprint.
But Pence made it known in 2013 when lawmakers last considered changes to the state’s gambling laws that he didn’t support the idea of casinos moving on land they already own. He called it an expansion of gaming.
Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, a Republican, supports the effort. The Democratic-controlled Evansville City Council does as well.
Winnecke said he intends to come to Indianapolis to lobby on the issue. Tropicana Evansville General Manager Jason Gregorec said allowing the casino to build on land would serve as an advantage to guests. A land-based casino for Tropicana also would have practical benefits as well – it’s a first generation riverboat and with that comes maintenance issues.
But will local support be enough?
State Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, is likely the Southwestern Indiana lawmaker that will be closest to the discussions on land-based casinos. She thinks allowing boats to build on their footprint isn’t an expansion of gaming.
Becker told the Courier & Press this month, “you’re just allowing them to construct better facilities and it will help them to remain competitive.”
How different elected officials define “expansion” likely will become key to whether land-based gaming sees a familiar end -- or moves forward.