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No more captains needed for boat casinos

Posted on December 12th, 2010

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New legislation in Indianapolis could remove the requirement that floating casinos actually have to be checked regularly for motor and crew maintenance. The proposal is aimed at reducing costs so that they can redirect these to more profitable aspects like improvement of services. If passed, the new law would effectively convert the state’s 10 floating casinos into real property. Non-moving casinos are more attractive to players because of the convenience it provides. Boat casinos were originally required to be navigable and self propelled. The mobility was intended to attract customers from different states. They were also required to go on cruises several times a day. But in 2002 this requirement was removed.

The new bill is intended to reduce costs that these casinos spend on the maintenance of a crew and captain. As well as the regular tune ups of the motor and other mechanical aspects of the boat. The boats aren’t legally required to go on cruises anymore to make it convenient for customers so this legislation will further enhance the maintenance and expansion plans of these casinos. Floating casinos are expected to save about $1 million dollars from the discontinuance of their regular maintenance operations. The proposal is also being considered because Ohio is preparing to license four new casinos. Ohio, according to a study, is steadily taking gambling revenue from Indiana and this could increase to a whopping $100 million if the situation in Indiana remains the same. This makes the proposal of new innovations and improvements to the gambling industry in Indiana much more important.

Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette and chairman of the Senate Public Policy Committee, said “We want to do what we can to help our existing casinos compete without the expansion of gambling.” Alting said that the state can “reap over $1 billion from casinos, and we have some responsibility to make this most regulated industry competitive against gambling in other states.” The proposal effectively places boat casinos on the same level as land based casinos. These “permanently moored vessels” will have no more reason to keep a captain and crew, said Mike Smith, president of the Indiana Casino Association. Although these casinos will most likely keep the crew since they are still necessary in the maintenance of the ship since even if there is no more need to cruise, the ship will still need to be kept afloat.

It is expected that the bill will have little opposition in the Senate since the primary consideration for the same is financial. And with the current financial problems being faced, anything that will help generate more revenue is welcome. Senate Tax Chairman Brandt Hershman, approves of the bill because it will help keep the casinos competitive against neighboring states. “This would allow casinos to generate more money under the current casino structure,” he said. “With the negative impact of gaming expansion in surrounding states, there will be a significant downward push in our revenues from casinos. Anything we can do to encourage the existing licensees to expand their investment in Indiana is healthy.” The bill will however be closely scrutinized by the republican-controlled house to ensure that no new provisions are added into the language of the bill. Assistant Republican Leader Eric Turner said they are willing to support any enhancement that will benefit already existing casinos but will be against any attempt of “significant expansion.”

A similar bill was introduced earlier but failed because there was an attempt to combine two boats and move a license to Fort Wayne. Turner had this to say about the matter, “the risk is that once you start with a bill that’s moving, then you’re moving the Gary boat, you’re adding a new facility in Fort Wayne, you’re creating land-based casinos.” “Now you’ve got a big bill and you’re not passing what you intended. That’s the risk,” He said. Alting wants the bill focused on the original goal it was made for. “Those are separate issues,” he said. “If wanted them in the bill, I’d put them in the bill. I don’t want them in the bill.” If the bill is passed, Indiana should see more revenue from the gambling industry. The money saved from the removal of regular motor maintenance should also help the casinos expand and make their establishments more attractive to consumers.