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Legislators Seek To Aid Casinos Against Competition Without Expanding Gambling

Last updated on Monday, January 12, 2015

(STATEHOUSE) - Legislative leaders haven’t decided how to deal with proposals to loosen restrictions on how Indiana casinos operate.

A summer study committee endorsed allowing the two racetrack casinos to add live dealers, and letting riverboats move their gaming operations onto land.

Governor Pence, Senate President Pro Tem David Long and House Speaker Brian Bosma have all said they oppose expanding gambling, but Bosma and Long agree there's no consensus on just what constitutes expansion.

Bosma notes he ended up supporting the addition of slot machines at the racetracks because then-Governor Mitch Daniels paired it with a crackdown on illegal video-gambling terminals in bars.

Long says there will have to be "high-level discussions" on how tod efine expansion and what to do to help the gaming industry. Long says casinos have to be able to compete against stepped-up competition from out of state to preserve the revenue stream that helps support the state budget.

Bosma says the state has to be willing to accept less gaming revenue if that's the price of holding the line on expansion.

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