By The Associated Press and N-B Staff Some Indiana residents want the state
to legalize video gambling in American Legion halls and other clubs – a move
supporters say would allow the state to regulate the machines and collect a
piece of the pot.The Indiana Licensed Beverage Association has planned
public meetings around the state to convince lawmakers that they should
legalize the devices when the General Assembly convenes in January.The first
of those meetings was held Wednesday night in Bluffton at the Grover Sheets
American Legion Post, with approximately 20 people in attendance, including
local tavern owners and area fraternal organizations.The Bluffton post had
video gambling machines on its premises until about a year ago when state
excise officers seized computer boards, making the machines inoperable. The
machines have since been removed from the post.Legion manager Cindy
Stephenson told the News-Banner that loss of the machines has made it
increasingly difficult for the post.”It’s been really tough trying to make
ends meet,” Stephenson said of the loss of revenue.
“We need to really look at it,” said David Heath, chairman of the Indiana
Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.Sen. Robert Meeks, chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, said people still play the machines at clubs and
businesses even though they are illegal. The Republican from LaGrange and
former state trooper said he has been in favor of legalizing the machines
for years.State Rep. Win Moses, D-Fort Wayne, compared the situation to
Prohibition, when banning alcohol made the industry go underground.Meeks and
Moses said legalizing the machines would allow the state to ensure fair
payouts while collecting a share of the money.But lawmakers have been cool
to the idea in the past. Few bills have been filed to legalize the machines
over the years and none has passed out of committee.Rep. Marlin Stutzman,
R-Howe, chairs the House Public Policy and Veterans Affairs Committee, and
could play a key role in gambling issues if Republicans retain control of
the House after the Nov. 7 elections.He said he would be unlikely to hear
any bill legalizing video gaming and is opposed to expanding gambling.House
Minority Leader Pat Bauer, a South Bend Democrat, said he also had
concerns.”People
are losing their life savings (by gambling). We have made it available
everywhere. That’s a problem,” he said.One of the public meetings was
scheduled for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6246 in Noblesville, which
hasn’t had video gambling since police seized a machine years ago.Frank
Perkins, the post quartermaster, said if the machines were legal, the state
would get tax revenue, the post’s members would have a chance at the
winnings and the post would get money for both rent and to support
charities.”It would be a good deal for everyone,” Perkins said.Public
meetings are planned in Bluffton, Fort Wayne, South Bend, East Chicago,
Noblesville, Beech Grove, West Lafayette, Evansville, Tell City, Terre Haute
and Bedford.