The Indiana Gaming Commission has approved Tropicana Evansville’s plan to move its gaming operation onto land...
Tropicana officials and Mayor Lloyd Winnecke went before the commission in Indianapolis, seeking permission to become Indiana’s first riverboat casino operation to move onto land.
The state legislature passed a law allowing such moves last year.
The gaming commission approved Tropicana’s $50 million plan Wednesday afternoon.
Winnecke tweeted after the meeting that he “greatly appreciates” the commission’s vote.
Tropicana plans to build its new land-based casino between the Tropicana and Le Merigot hotels on Riverside Drive.
Company officials hope to break ground later this year and open the new facility by the end of 2017.
The plan also calls for Tropicana to contribute $1 million to move LST 325 from its dock off Waterworks Road to a more prominent site – where the riverboat casino currently sits on Riverside.
The riverboat would be sold and removed once the land-based casino opens.