Betting Sports Forum: Indianapolis Discusses Downtown Casino

Betting Sports Forum: Indianapolis Discusses Downtown Casino

Idea has resurfaced, but lawmakers shot it down 5 years ago

By Richard Gootee
Indianapolis Star

Once more, talk of a casino in Downtown Indianapolis has cropped up.
A casino, the thinking goes, could help the Capital Improvement Board (CIB), which runs the city's professional sports venues, get out of its financial mess.
The cash-hungry CIB says it's not actively pushing for a casino, but Mayor Greg Ballard a few weeks back said he'd never say never.
So how realistic is this idea?
Not very, judging by the reaction from state lawmakers.
Much of the opposition exists because of concerns over hurting other gaming destinations, including two new gaming facilities at the horse tracks in Shelbyville and Anderson.
"If a Downtown Indianapolis casino was allowed, it would further damage, and maybe fatally damage (the) French Lick (Resort Casino), and would hurt the revenues of the two tracks," said Senate Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne. "You have to look at that."
The gambling debate in Long's own district is heating up.
Earlier this month, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry said he wants a referendum to gauge residents' interest in a casino.
Long said he personally opposes gambling but wouldn't block the move in Fort Wayne if residents support it. But he pointed out that Senate Republicans and Gov. Mitch Daniels are opposed to granting new gambling licenses.
A new license, however, might not be necessary.
Detroit entrepreneur Don Barden owns two casinos in Gary and has expressed interest in consolidating those locations.
Barden, who owns four other casinos around the country, already tried a move to northeastern Indiana last year. But a bill that allowed Barden to move the license to Steuben County died in committee after local Gary leaders said they opposed losing one of the casinos.
In Indianapolis, former Mayor Bart Peterson floated the idea of a casino when the city was exploring ways to pay for Lucas Oil Stadium five years ago. But the state quickly shot it down.

Betting Sports Forum: Indianapolis Discusses Downtown Casino