Gaming expansion bills are always hit-or-miss propositions in the General Assembly, but both State Rep. Bill Black and Sen. Mike Frerichs seem to think a new casino in Danville is a possibility:
In his letter, Black said a Danville boat would derive more than half of its money from Indiana residents, drawing gamblers from Lafayette, Indianapolis, Bloomington and Terre Haute to boost Vermilion County's economy.
"You tell me where else I can find 750 to 1,000 jobs, not all minimum wage, $50 million plus in construction and put $15 million to $20 million in tax revenue in the city and the county," he asked.
State Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Gifford, said Black made some very good points in his letter.
"I personally have been opposed to an expansion of gambling, but I've been contacted by many people in Danville and throughout Vermilion County asking me to support this," Frerichs said. "I think my job as their elected senator is to represent the people of my district and what they want. Right now it seems to be the will of my constituents to have a boat in Danville."
I question whether gaming is a positive economic development for depressed areas. It certainly hasn't done much for East St. Louis (which is much more depressed than Danville) or Metropolis, two other areas of the state which have casinos and in which I've worked. The gaming companies and the State keep generating a bunches or profits/revenues, though.
There's more on the prospects of a gaming expansion bill here.
And, of course, no hat tip in the CN-G article to the publication which broke the story of a potential Danville casino. lol
While I understand why Rep. Black is concerned about Danville, I don't think signing on to a huge Gambling expansion for this state will help. Danville's OTB couldn't even stay afloat. I saw the numbers in the News Gazette 1.4 Million people in Indiana are going to travel to Danville to Gamble, are not most of those people an hour and half away in Indianapolis or up in Gary? Most of the people down state won’t travel to Danville or want to gamble. Danville would be better off trying to attract real manufacturing jobs.
Don't forget who does most of the gambling, people who can't afford to gamble in the first place, who are mostly looking for that big break. Gambling to raise state revenues seems to me to be a regressive tax on the poor. We end up footing the bill in higher taxes to pay for greater welfare, crime and prisons we shouldn't do that to our fellow citizens.
Can't our Legislator's and Governor come up a more Fiscally sound way to fund our government then Gambling? Perhaps not expand so many programs so much.
"And, of course, no hat tip in the CN-G article to the publication which broke the story of a potential Danville casino. lol"
Shocking.
I wonder how many students from the U of I will visit it? They should make it like the bars...19 to enter, but you "have to be 21 to gamble"
BBB