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Monday, December 13, 2004

Indiana Government - Courier Journal series on video gambling

The Louisville Courier Journal has a two-day series, yesterday and today, on video gambling in Kentucky and Indiana. Here are links to the stories:

  • Video gambling is thriving in the open, outside the law - Lead story, Sun. 12/12/4.

  • Addiction: Gambling's lure can wreck lives - Second chances come at great cost - here

  • Enforcement: Inconsistent efforts fail to halt gaming - Authorities cite investigation hindrances, need to target more serious crimes - here

  • Store's case shows lack of uniform enforcement - here

  • Two states, two decisions: Legalize games, ban them - Oregon's video machines legal, profitable; South Carolina ends 14 'unregulated' years - Lead story, Mon. 12/13/04

  • Graphic of legalized video gambling projections - here

  • Manufacturer tests law with collector-card vending game - here

  • VIDEO GAMBLING LEGALIZATION: Cash-strapped Indiana considers move - Tax revenue could be boon for state - here

  • Graphic of what other states have done - here

  • Authorities' Battle: Strong laws, tough stances needed to shutdown machines - here
    • Some quotes from the introduction to "Cash-strapped Indiana considers move" story, listed above:
    INDIANAPOLIS — When it convenes in January, the Indiana General Assembly will again be confronted with legislation intended to legalize thousands of video gambling machines in bars, restaurants and private clubs.

    And the bill could get a better reception this time, though its chances for passage remain uncertain.

    Legalizing and taxing the devices, which now operate openly in many bars and fraternal clubs, could produce hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for a state that is facing a crushing budget deficit — roughly $800 million this year.

    And the newly appointed chairman of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, Republican Bob Meeks of LaGrange, is a longtime supporter of the concept.

    "(Gambling machines) ought to be out in the light — regulated, controlled and taxed," said Meeks, who has introduced legislation to legalize them at least four times. "We're not making any state income on these machines, but they're out there now."

    Still, there are plenty of opponents, and in past sessions the issue has not moved beyond the discussion stage.

    [More.] The Indianapolis Star this morning has this featured letter to the editor titled: "Pull tabs offer hope to horse-racing industry."

    Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 13, 2004 08:14 AM
    Posted to Indiana Government