Thursday, November 16, 2006

There is serious talk that a new riverboat casino may be coming to
Kentuckiana. But while riverboat gambling has the approval of Clark County
voters, it still faces opposition up and down the Ohio. WAVE 3 Investigator
Eric Flack has more. Officials say it's not a matter of "if" riverboat
gambling is coming to Clark County. "I think it's a matter of when," said
Doug England, President of the Floyd County-Clark County Tourism Bureau.
Less than a week after 61 percent of voters approved a referendum to
legalize riverboat gambling in Clark County, three different gaming
companies have reportedly expressed interest in coming to Jeffersonville.
That came as no surprise to tourism officials, who see the waterfront as
prime real estate for a casino. "It's Indiana, it's Kentucky, it's 65, 71
and 64," England said. "I mean it's such a great location for it." Not so
great for Churchill Downs, which has already seen a 24 percent drop in
betting and an 18 percent drop in attendance since Caesars opened eight
years ago. "Certainly, any new form of competition, considering the impact
its already had on our business here locally, is something for us to be
concerned about," said Churchill Spokeswoman Julie Koenig-Loignon

That concern is now shared by both Caesars, which stands to lose money if a
new boat comes to town; and state representative Bob Bischoff of
Lawrenceburg, whose district includes three riverboats near Cincinnati.

Some believe Clark County will try to lure one of those boats here.

"Oh, I would have a lot of reservations about that," Rep. Bischoff said.

"I think they have the cart ahead of the horse here."

But Clark County is confident the gaming companies will bet on them.

"Their purpose in life is to give their investors back a return on their
money," England said.

And they say the money is right here in Kentuckiana.

Insiders think it is a long shot that the Indiana Gaming Commission would
create an entirely new license, which is why Clark County would have to hope
someone wants to relocate.

It will probably not be Caesars, which has just started a $50 million
renovation to its Harrison County facility.

The general manager at Caesars also said there has never been a gaming
license transferred from one county to the other, so there are a number of
hurdles still remaining for this to happen.