Talk about waiting until the last minute. As the second hand was slowly advancing toward the end of the legislative session, Indiana lawmakers managed to sign off on a gaming expansion bill for the state. It was the largest expansion package Indiana has seen to date and will now go before Governor Eric Holcomb for his signature.

Controversial House Bill 1015 (HB 1015) seeks to make a lot of changes to Indiana’s gambling landscape. It authorizes mobile sports wagers, which will certainly cause a disturbance, as well as the relocation of two riverboat casinos, which is going to cause an even greater disturbance.

Currently, Majestic Star I and Majestic Star II, both owned by Spectacle Entertainment, operate as riverboat casinos while moored at Buffington Harbor on Lake Michigan. They each have their own operating license, but function as a single casino. HB 1015 will allow Spectacle to relocate one of its licenses to a land-based casino in Gary and the other to Terre Haute. However, it would have to compete for the Terre Haute venue against other casino operators.

Spectacle’s new Gary venue would offer the same amount of gaming activity as do Majestic Star I and II combined. This would convert the casino into the largest in the state; however, the taxes assessed would be calculated as if Spectacle were still operating the two riverboat casinos.