Indiana Online Casino Bill Fails To Take Flight Amidst Spectacle Scandal

This week, the Indiana Senate never advanced the online casino legislation, resulting in its demise.

In January, Sen. Jon Ford introduced S 417 to assist the casino industry, which has been grappling with losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He hoped that his Senate Public Policy Committee would give a hearing to the internet gambling bill. However, the bill never made it past the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure and was never assigned.

The bill was effectively killed when the Senate deadline for legislation to progress from committee passed on Thursday.

Matt Bell, the president and CEO of the Casino Association of Indiana, expressed disappointment that the bill did not advance in the 2021 legislative session. He stated, “With companies now launching online in Michigan, iGaming could have been an effective method for us to reintroduce our properties and attract new patrons. We would have really benefited from it.”

Part of the responsibility for the Spectacle Entertainment scandal lies with…

Bell revealed two reasons why he believed the bill did not pass in 2021:

1. The current pandemic restricted committee meetings and hindered normal dialogues with legislators to advocate for the bill.
2. The scandal in the Indiana casino industry made legislators uneasy about considering new gaming.

The Indiana Gaming Commission is probing into potential misconduct by Spectacle Entertainment executives during the approval process for constructing casinos in Gary and Terre Haute.

Play Indiana’s source reveals that Senate President Rodric Bray was not interested in proceeding with a gaming bill due to an ongoing investigation, according to a report.

Bell stated, “That investigation did not involve our entire industry, and the credibility of gaming in Indiana remains unchallenged. However, due to significant publicity surrounding the investigation, I believe the legislature intends to reassess and comprehend the situation.”

Online casinos are yet to provide a boost to Indiana casinos.

The pandemic caused a 7.1% decline in Indiana’s casino revenue in 2020. This drop in revenue results in less tax money paid to the state.

Casinos in Indiana continue to operate under restrictions, with many regular customers choosing to stay away for safety reasons.

Casinos in New Jersey and Pennsylvania garnered revenue from internet gambling to persist in their prosperity amid the pandemic. As of last month, Michigan, Indiana’s northern neighbor, also introduced online casino gaming.

Bell remains hopeful to generate momentum for Indiana online casinos in 2022, despite the setback.

“Bell stated, “The legislature still shows interest in the legalization of iGaming. In my opinion, it’s a question of when, not if. Our plan is to persist in educating lawmakers and building a strong argument for iGaming in 2022.”