The casinos’ futures remain up in the air as the Indiana Gaming Commission looks into allegations that a former Indianapolis gambling company and one of its officers were involved in a federal campaign finance scheme.
At nearly every turn, Rod Ratcliff or his companies or his associates have run into questions and concerns about the way they interact with the public officials who make the rules associated with the industry.
Officials of Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville have long pushed for the change that they expect will draw more gamblers and boost state tax revenue.
The Indiana Gaming Commission on Tuesday gave the final approval to Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville to launch live-dealer table games.
The $91.7 million that Indiana sportsbooks accepted last month is almost triple the amount wagered in September when sports betting became legal.
PlayUSA.com Network, a news and research organization that follows sports gambling and operates PlayNJ.com and PlayIndiana.com, called the first-month data “impressive.”
The Indiana Gaming Commission has approved the mobile launch for the first operator, French Lick Casino, which is working with Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive to offer retail and online sports wagering.
Revenue from the state’s 10 casinos was 31.2% less than what had been expected in August, but racino revenue was on the rise.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, Ameristar Casino in East Chicago and Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg opened their sports books Sunday, the first day they were allowed by law.
The Indiana Gaming Commission voted Wednesday to allow the operator of Gary’s two casinos to relocate the properties inland, setting up the possibility for a casino near Terre Haute.
The new casino is expected to offer up to 2,764 gaming positions and multiple restaurants and entertainment options, including a Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live concert venue.
At the Winner’s Circle in downtown Indianapolis, Caesars will add extra bar seating and televisions. It also is adding an activity area with cornhole boards and shuffleboard to create more of a sports-bar-like atmosphere.
Indiana casinos will compete effectively against a slew of new casino sites in Illinois, Gov. Eric Holcomb said Monday.
Eldorado Resorts Inc. announced Monday that it plans to buy Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment Corp., creating the largest gambling operator in the United States—and in Indiana.
Illinois legislators have approved a giant gambling-expansion bill that allows sports betting and as many as six new casinos, including one in Chicago.
Indiana Gaming Commission Executive Director Sara Gonso Tait said Thursday that state regulators might not be ready by Sept. 1 to allow sports betting, even though a law approved earlier this year makes it legal beginning on that date.
Voter approval of the referendum is required under a law adopted by state legislators this spring allowing construction of a casino in Terre Haute.
Holcomb said he made the decision—which comes on the heels of multiple conflict of interest questions about the gambling bill—to “spur positive economic growth for our state and for an industry that employs over 11,000 Hoosiers.”
Some observers say the upcoming changes are the most significant in the industry since the Legislature authorized riverboat casinos in 1993.
The updated legislation also would decrease the fee that the owner of the two casinos in Gary would have to pay in order to move a casino from Lake Michigan to a more convenient interstate location.
