Indiana lawmakers condemn state gambling regulators and demand changes
During a state Budget Committee hearing on Tuesday, Indiana lawmakers decried the way state gaming regulators assess fines and regulatory penalties.
State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) challenged members of the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), threatening changes if regulators don't quickly adjust how they review violations. Garten said that just because casinos are profitable, the commission does not have the authority to impose exorbitant fines on companies when they have legal mishaps.
It seems like the ideology is that because casinos are profitable in Indiana, we should be able to fine them higher," Garten said, as first reported by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “That doesn’t give you rights. "
Over the past seven years, the IGC has fined 12 commercial riverboat and land-based casinos in the state more than $4.5 million. There is also one tribal casino in Indiana that is not regulated by the IGC.
High fines
Under the state's Casino Act, the IGC has the power to impose penalties on licensed gaming operators who breach the law. Garten and other state lawmakers, including Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka), believe fines imposed in recent years are excessive and subjective.
IGC Executive Director Greg Small defended his agency and said the proposed financial condemnation was intended to promote casino compliance.
We have a law that states that the economic performance of casinos and their recruitment are critical. We respect that,” Small said.
Small said the commission does not believe the fine will impact casino hiring or cause the casino to be unprofitable.
The IGC imposes such fines for a variety of reasons. For example, a casino fails to deny entry to minors, fails to withhold winnings from players who owe child support, or fails to allow gambling by people on a state's prohibited list.
Garten, chairman of the Joint Rules Committee, read out the casino's complaint regarding the IGC's penalty assessment.
One comment expressed the casino's view that Indiana is one of the less favorably regulated markets in the United States. Another delegate feared “retaliation” from the IGC.
The workload of intergovernmental meetings has increased in recent years. In addition to overseeing the launch of sports betting in Indiana in 2019, the agency has overseen the opening of three new casinos since 2017.
The name is Kettle Hei?
The gambling controversy in Indiana extends beyond the IGC’s internal operations. Last month, a third former state lawmaker pleaded guilty to involvement in a bribery scandal involving Spectacle Entertainment.
In 2018 Spectacle co-founder and former lawmaker John Keeler admitted to using campaign funds and promises to Sen. Brent Walz (R-Marion) and Rep. Sean Eberha (R-Morgan) paid them bribes and promised them high-paying jobs. She resigned from elected office in exchange for preferential treatment.
Federal prosecutors said Walz and Eberhard pushed for a law that would have allowed the two Spectacle Casinos to relocate and move inland.
The IGC collaborates with the U.S. Department of Justice on bribery investigations. The scandal led Indiana lawmakers to say they would not vote on gambling legislation during the 2024 session.
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Source: www.casino.org
