An Indiana legislator has filed a bill that would allow riverboat casinos to move their operations onto shore.
The measure authored by Representative Tom Dermody would allow Tropicana Evansville and the state’s other riverboats to move inland within the footprint of their current facilities.
Both Democratic State Representative Gail Riecken and Republican State Senator Vaneta Becker tell WNIN Lawmakers that they support the effort.
Becker says she participated on a summer committee that came up with the recommendation, and she doesn't see it as an expansion of gaming.
Governor Mike Pence has said he’s opposed to expanding gaming, but he’s not offered specifics on whether he believes moving the casinos would constitute an expansion.
The legislation does not eliminate or make changes to the $3 admissions tax casinos pay per visitor.
The city of Evansville and Vanderburgh County receive about $2 million a year from casino taxes.