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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Indiana Government - More on video gambling
Updating the Louisville Courier Journal's two-day series (Dec. 12 and 13) on video gambling (access ILB entry here) is this story today titled "State leaders take new look at illegal gambling devices." Some quotes:
Indiana Gov.-elect Mitch Daniels said yesterday that the state must decide whether to enforce its laws against video gambling or legalize the thousands of devices that now operate openly in bars and restaurants.Daniels told reporters in Indianapolis he hasn't decided which option is better. But he added that the current situation — weak enforcement and widespread illegal gambling — is unacceptable. * * *
In stories Sunday and Monday, The Courier-Journal documented widespread illegal video gambling in bars, truck stops, convenience stores and other establishments in both states.
The newspaper found that thousands of slot-like gambling devices and video poker machines operate openly and illegally — allowing operators to rake in millions of dollars in untaxed profits. * * *
"Which direction to move ... is something honest people can differ about," Daniels said.
He has said repeatedly that the new administration will put "everything on the table" in trying to tackle a budget deficit of more than $600million, a figure that dropped $200 million on the basis of revenue estimates released yesterday.
Legalizing, regulating and taxing gambling machines could generate as much as much as $382million for state and local governments, according to a study by the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association, which is lobbying for legalization.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 15, 2004 06:11 AM
Posted to Indiana Government