Bill to allow riverboat casinos to move inland gets OK in Indiana Senate

House Bill 1540 originally would have allowed 12 live table games at the racetrack casinos in Anderson and Shelbyville. After it passed the House, the Senate Appropriations Committee took that language out, instead saying the racinos could get live table games in 2021.

The bill passed 36-13. If the House does not concur with the changes, the bill will go to a conference committee where the differences between the House and Senate versions will be ironed out.

Sen. Tim Lanane, whose district includes Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, voted for the bill but said he was disappointed the live table games language was taken out.

"It seems to me this helps out the riverboats and it helps out French Lick, but it doesn't help the racinos," Lanane said. "All the racinos get is a promise (that) five years from now they'll have table games."

Lanane said he voted for the bill because he thought it would help the state overall. 

The bill still must be signed by Gov. Mike Pence, who has said previously he is against an expansion of gaming but has not defined what he thinks an expansion is.