Feeling The Effects Of The Gambling Bill

michal-parzuchowski-43274-unsplash

INDIANA – A gambling bill signed into law by Governor Holcomb this week will take affect September 1st.

The law legalizes sports betting, would allow two casinos in Lake County to move to downtown Gary and Terre Haute at a multi-million-dollar fee by the owners, allows for table gaming, and allows casinos to be built unattached to a body of water or a horse racing track.

Ed Feigenbaum is the editor of Indiana Gaming Insight. He tells Inside Indiana Business that the new law will be a game changer.

“We’re talking 800 to 1,000 jobs in Vigo County,” Feigenbaum said. “We’re talking about a net increase of some 800 jobs (in the game industry) and that’s even factoring in jobs that might be lost at Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, Horseshow Casino Hammond, and Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City.”

With the two Majestic Star riverboat casinos planning to essentially combine and compete to move to Vigo County under the law, Feigenbaum said the city of Gary stands to benefit immensely with land in Buffington Harbor clearing out and allowing the city to open a new port.

Feigenbaum added the allowing of live dealers and table gaming will be most beneficial for the Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville.

“Before long, you’re going to see a hotel there,” he said. “You’re going to see significant economic development. Perhaps a $60 million to $80 million addition in order to accommodate the table games there.”

Which Feigenbaum said means even more jobs for Hoosiers in central Indiana. He added all that impact would make Indiana Grand more of an attraction than it has been before for the city of Indianapolis.