David McKee

Indiana‘s casinos are now officially at the mercy of Gov. Mike Pence (R). The Hoosier State’s General Assembly passed a compromise bill that has something for the casinos (transplanting to terra firma) and something for Pence, namely a five-year moratorium on live dealers at the state’s two racinos. Whether that will be enough, nobody knows except Pence, whose views on the legislation have been exquisitely opaque. The mere fact that the moratorium would end a few days before Pence’s second term might be enough to make him reach for his veto pen, even though the bills passed both houses with decisive majorities. Besides, Pence is weighing a presidential run, which requires a certain amount of pandering to the anti-gambling crowd. However, he could simply choose to let the bill become law without his signature, sparing himself the embarrassment of a veto override. All he has to do is “forget” it for a week.

Casinos get to keep their free-play deduction tax deduction and it’s been bumped up to $7 million apiece, from Continue reading →