Thursday, March 22, 2007

Two new casinos in Central Indiana are one step closer to reality. The vote
was nine to three in a state Senate committee for the bill to permit slot
machines at horse tracks in Anderson and Shelbyville. "We need help and we
need your help. We need slot machines at Indiana's two race tracks," said
Rick Moore of Hoosier Park. The bill now allows 1,500 slot machines at each
track, down from 2,500. The licensing fee to track owners, however, is up
from $100 million to $400 million. The changes produced no complaints. "We
are not asking for a handout. We are asking for a hand. Give us the tools to
allow our industry to remain vital and viable," said John Schuster of
Indiana Downs. Opposition came from the owners of the French Lick and
Belterra casinos. They do not want the competition. "One track was bad
business. Two tracks is poor judgment," said gambling opponent Paul Oakes.
Gambling opponents say that horse racing will never work in Indiana and the
effort to subsidize the industry is dishonest. "This national movement of
placing slot machines at horse tracks is a subtle transformation from track
gambling to casino gambling," said Rev. Daniel Gangler, Indiana Citizens
Against Legalized Gambling. Standing in the back of the room were bar owners
who want video poker legalized. No one offered their amendment. Some of the
money from the slot machines is now targeted for property tax relief. The
bill now goes to the full Senate where former leader and gambling opponent
Bob Garton is no longer there to stop it.