By Liz Thomas
2/23/2010
The Indiana House has voted against amending a gaming bill to allow existing riverboat casinos to convert to land-based operations.
The issue split the gambling industry and individual casinos struggling to compete with growing operations in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Illinois.
Rep. Matt Bell (R-Avilla) argued the amendement would help protect an established industry in Indiana from outside competition.
"It can be an important part of making our properties competitive, so they can attract individual investment into the state," Bell said.
But Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Indianapolis) countered that casinos are asking for special treatment.
"They don't want to be treated like a business. They want to be treated like a monopoly" Murphy said.
Rep. Charlie Brown (D-Gary) argued whether people agree with gambling or not, it contributes millions of dollars to the state economy while creating thousands of jobs.
"Everybody has a philosophical feeling about gaming, but we cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater," Brown said.
The provision has been backed by Gary officials as a way to boost their local economy with an inland casino within city limits.
A legislative summer study on gambling issues found the state could lose more than $100 million in gambling tax revenue if it did not state steps to compete with the Ohio casinos, which were authorized by voters in November.
The final vote on the inland amendment was 57-42.
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