Indiana Weighs In on Slots and Video Gaming
Indiana is another state on the verge of major gambling changes. The state has gone through various stages of gambling law over the past few years and is now closer than ever to accepting gambling as a viable revenue-generating option. Back in 2007 an organization within the state comprised of bar owners prepared a proposal to bring slots and video poker machines into their establishments. The proposal also introduced machines being brought into restaurants and fraternal organization lodges. Overall, each entity would use the machines as an additional revenue stream that hopefully would continue to grow over the lifespan of each business.
The move was based on an earlier study done by the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association that showed that the positioning of 3,500 slot machines and video poker machines throughout the country would bring in an estimated $300 million in tax-revenue dollars. The money would be split in state and local government coffers. Much of the state was in support of the move since illegal machines were running rampant already. Some supporters of the proposal are Representative Win Moses and Senator Bob Meeks.
The question of gaming in the state of Indiana has been a long-standing debate for many legislators. So far there are about 25,000 machines positioned throughout the state at bait shops, convenience stores and pubs. It’s made regulation of the machines difficult. Those who support legalization are making moves to crackdown on machines and create laws that eliminate the illegal machines, while bringing in affordable ones to replace them. Most business owners think the move to legalize and regulate machines would be the best option since banning them is only causing more and more illegal machines to crop up. The problem is becoming a mirror of the bigger issue of gambling. In 2006 the US created the UIGEA that was supposed to stop gambling online, however it actually had a much different effect. People who wanted to gamble, merely started doing so at offshore and channeling millions of dollars out of the country. The same potentially could happen with gambling in the state of Indiana. If legislators do not find a way to legalize slots and video games, underground machines will continue to run rampant and the money won’t benefit the state or local governments.
