The Senate Thursday approved a wide-ranging bill aimed at helping the state’s gaming industry stay afloat in an increasingly competitive market.
But a major part of the discussion about the industry’s future will wait until next year.
The gaming bill allows riverboats to move inland on their existing footprint, limits the amount of gaming positions at each casino to whatever their highest number has been since 2007 and caps games at the racetrack casinos to 2,200.
Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, says the bill does not make any major changes to the state’s gaming taxes – though earlier versions tried.
“They really were not comprehensive and cohesive and put together in such a way that they were fair to all members of the regulated community.”
The tax issues were pushed to a summer study committee.
The legislation also bars racinos from adding live table games until January 2021. Gov. Mike Pence opposed adding live dealers, and Kenley notes the 2021 date would be when Pence, if reelected, leaves office.
The bill now heads back to the House.
