UPDATE: Casino Gaming Bill Could Be Amended To Appease Locals

Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 6:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

Update published Tuesday, February 24 at 7:45 a.m.: Southeast Indiana State Representative Jud McMillin (R-Brookville), whose district includes Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg and the City of Lawrenceburg, expects an amendment protecting local gaming revenues to be adopted as part of House Bill 1540. The amendment will be considered when HB 1540 comes up for its second reading on the floor of the Indiana House Tuesday. "Based on the conversations that I've had with the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and the author of the bill, I'm pretty confident that we're going to get those in today," McMillin said on Eagle 99.3 Tuesday morning. The amendment would require a summer study committee of state lawmakers to look at the benefits of gaming revenues remaining with casino host communities and the affects of potentially shifting those funds to the state. "What that means is we're going to have to have a really loud voice over the summer while this stuff is being looked into and make sure that we suggest what the money should be used for," McMillin said. Hear the full interview with McMillin in the audio player below. [audio mp3="http://eaglecountryonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/jud-mcmillin-hb1540-02242015.mp3"][/audio] Original story published Monday, February 23 at 4:32 a.m.: (Indianapolis, Ind.) - A local lawmaker says an amendment will be filed to House Bill 1540, the casino gaming bill due for a vote in the Indiana House this week. HB 1540 seeks to reduce the amount of gaming revenue distributed to casino host communities by altering wagering taxes, admission taxes, "held harmless" funds, and requiring the renegotiation of development agreements between municipalities and the casinos. The legislation authored by State Rep. Tom Dermody (R-LaPorte) also includes provisions to allow riverboats casinos to become land-based and for the horsetrack racinos in Anderson and Shelbyville to gain equal footing with riverboats by adding live table game dealers. The bill has been deeply concerning to local officials, especially those in Ohio County and Rising Sun who say it could devastate the local economy. EARLIER: OHIO COUNTY OFFICIAL: URGE LAWMAKERS TO VOTE AGAINST GAMING BILL On Monday afternoon, State Rep. Jud McMillin (R-Brookville) shared on his Facebook page some "good news" regarding HB 1540. "When it comes up for second reading tomorrow I anticipate an amendment removing all language that would harm local communities to be supported by Reps. Tom Dermodyand Tim Brown who are authors of the bill. Much thanks to both of them for their willingness to work this out. A TON of work has gone into this and there is still much to do, but this is wonderful news for our local communities. Stay tuned..." McMillin wrote. The bill is scheduled to come up for a second reading on the House floor on Tuesday, a day later than originally scheduled after it passed the House Ways and Means Committee last week. It's third and final House reading may happen Wednesday. Some local officials might rather see the bill die completely. Switzerland County Commissioner Josh South, a Republican, posed the question on his Facebook page over whether any county which voted years ago to approve riverboat gaming would have done so without the monetary benefits that came along with them - something HB 1540 seeks to strip away. "This will likely increase taxes as some communities will lose as much as 90% of their gaming revenue. Local communities will have to find some way to replace the losses. This is really subsidizing the state and casino industry on the back of some of the poorest counties in Indiana," South said. RELATED STORIES: Ohio County Official: Urge Lawmakers To Vote Against Gaming Bill Gaming Bill Amended To Target Local Revenues; Headed To House Floor Gaming Bill Advances; Rising Sun, Casino Officials Ask For Consideration