Pence Says He's Still Against Expanding Gaming In Indiana

Indiana’s gaming industry will make a big push this session to improve its competitiveness. That effort could include more riverboats on land and live table game dealers at racinos.  But, the industry faces a hurdle in Gov. Mike Pence.

The gaming industry’s push for riverboats on land and live table games at racinos is not new. Two sessions ago, legislation containing those measures passed the Senate, only to be stripped out in the House.  Following that session, Pence said he would not have supported those moves.

“I made it very clear early in the session to members of the General Assembly that I did not support an expansion of gaming,” Pence said.

A legislative study committee this summer produced recommendations to help Indiana’s gaming industry, and those recommendations include riverboats moving on land and allowing racinos’ live table games.  When asked if he’s come around to the idea, Pence isn’t changing his tune.

“People who know me well know that when I sought this office I said, ‘It’s not my intention to expand gaming as governor of this state,’” he said.

Pence says gaming issues are not part of his agenda and he’ll evaluate any proposals when they reach his desk.