Gaming briefs for January 26, 2001

Friday, Jan. 26, 2001 | 11:15 a.m.

Dockside gambling, casino tax hike advance

INDIANAPOLIS -- After more than two hours of debate, the Indiana House approved legislation Thursday that would legalize dockside gambling and raise taxes on Indiana's 10 floating casinos.

The bill passed by a vote of 57-43. It now goes to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.

Proponents said the bill would allow Indiana's riverboats to remain competitive with dockside casinos in Illinois and the gambling market in general in the Midwest.

The bill would allow riverboat casinos to remain moored instead of making regularly scheduled cruises. That change would allow patrons to come and go as they please, something the casino industry says is vital to remain competitive.

It also would allow casinos on Lake Michigan to be constructed on barges. That potentially could mean much larger casinos, something proponents say will help them compete with dockside casinos in neighboring Illinois.

Compulsive gamblers may be allowed to work in casinos

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Compulsive gamblers will soon be able to work at casinos from which they have had themselves voluntarily banned.

The Missouri Gaming Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the new rule. It takes effect in about 60 days, executive director Kevin Mullally said.

Missouri's Disassociated Persons Program allows problem gamblers to have themselves permanently barred from casinos. Violators can be charged with trespassing.

But many casino employees complained to the commission they feared losing their jobs if they entered the program. The commission proposed the new policy last year to account for such situations.

Before devising the rule, the commission consulted counselors who treat problem gamblers and was told that such gamblers could be around casinos and still recover, Mullally said.