This week, on Tuesday, the Indiana Senate passed gaming legislation (Senate Bill 552) by a 38-11 vote.
Senate Bill 552 would make the following changes to the Indiana gambling landscape:
- Legalization of sports wagering. The legislation would allow mobile sports wagering after an individual signs up in person at a licensed casino, racino, or OTB facility. The operators offering such wagering will be allowed to use subcontractors who will also need to be licensed.
- Adding table games to horse racetrack casinos this year. Notably, authorization to allow table games starting in 2021 has already been approved. Thus, the legislation just speeds up this process.
- Allow two existing casinos (Majestic Star I and Majestic Star II) in Gary Indiana to move locations away from the waterfront, with one relocating to Terre Haute Indiana. The Terre Haute casino operator will be selected by a complicated competitive process to be conducted by the Indiana Gaming Commission.
The bill now moves to the Indiana House for consideration.
