Centaur touts impact of horse tracks, gambling in Shelby and Madison counties

Those include:

• $500 million in state property tax relief from the gaming license fee;

• $696,047,332 in state gaming wagering taxes;

• $21,213,930 in state race wagering taxes;

• $9,324,864 in state sales and use taxes;

• $17,738,000 in state French Lick subsidy;

• $79,301,095 in city and county wagering taxes;

• $24,217,323 in city and county property taxes;

• $998,557 in city and county food and beverage taxes; and

• $380,323,995 in racing industry horsemen fees.

Locally, those incentive payments have helped fund a variety of economic development projects. Shelbyville also uses racino funds to fund police and fire and buy snow plows, for instance, while Morristown is helping pay for its new fire station through the use of racino funds.

Shelbyville also uses racino revenue to help fund not-for-profits through grants to the Blue River Community Foundation.

Factoring in local payroll and purchases, Centaur says its facilities have infused more than $854 million into its host communities.

Combined, Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park employ over 2,000 people, with 71 percent living in Shelby and Madison counties and 53 percent living in Shelbyville and Anderson. Employees in the two racinos have earned more than $380 million in combined salaries, wages, benefits and tips since the casinos opened.

"The 2014 Centaur Gaming Community Impact Report serves as an annual report card not only for our company but also our entire team," Centaur Gaming Communications Director Grant Scharton said. "... We hope Shelby County residents find this document useful in not only better understanding Centaur Gaming and our complete impact, but more importantly the many great works our community-minded, hardworking team accomplished."