The Indiana Licensed Beverage Association (ILBA) has planned public meetings around the state to convince lawmakers that they should legalize the devices when the General Assembly convenes in January 2007. The ILBA strongly feels that in order to pass legislation to legalize electronic gaming there must be a strong coalition. These meetings are to organize a unified message to be sent to the general assembly that this will be a positive fiscal impact on every community in Indiana.
The first of those meetings was held Wednesday night in Bluffton at the Grover Sheets American Legion Post, with approximately 20 people in attendance, including local tavern owners and area fraternal organizations.
The Bluffton post had video gambling machines on its premises until a year ago when the state seized computer boards, making the machines inoperable.
The supporters of legalizing video gambling claim it would allow the state to regulate the machines and collect a piece of the revenues. The most common claim is that people still play the machines at clubs and businesses even though they are illegal. The Republican from LaGrange and former state trooper said he has been in favor of legalizing the machines for years. Others, as state Rep. Win Moses, D-Fort Wayne, compared the situation to Prohibition, when banning alcohol made the industry bypass the restrictions and go underground. Moses, as well as other supporters, said legalizing the machines would allow the state to secure consumers' interest, such as ensuring fair payouts, while collecting part of the pot that will be redirected to the community.
Although supported by some representatives, lawmakers have been cool to the initiative in the past. Few bills have been filed to legalize gambling machines over the years, and none has passed out of committee.
Opposing to gambling expansion, Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Howe, said he would be unlikely to hear any bill legalizing video gaming. Stutzman could play a key role in gambling issues if Republicans retain control of the House after the Nov. 7 elections.
House Minority Leader Pat Bauer, a South Bend Democrat, said he also had concerns, claiming that people lose their life savings when participating in gambling activities.
The next ILBA public meetings are planned in Ft Wayne, Bluffton, South Bend, Lake County, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Bloomington/Bedford, Terre Haute and Evansville. In these meetings the ILBA will review and discuss how to continue pushing the initiative forward, by setting agenda and time line for action.
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