New casinos prepare to open at Indiana horse tracks
Two new casinos have each tentatively scheduled openings in the next two weeks. At Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, horses will no longer be the only thing to gamble on.
"Im feeling some elation that we got to this point and hopefully we pass our tests today and I cant wait to open to the general public," said Jim Brown of the Hoosier Park Casino.
Hoosier Park went through a state-mandated test run of its facility Thursday. If it passes, it plans to open next Monday.
Indiana Downs goes through its test next Friday and hopes to open the following Monday.
"Well, on balance, it should be a real plus for Indiana because there is more investment, more employment. And there are two of them so we should expect that to increase economic activity in the state." said Butler University economist Bill Rieber.
This new facility required a huge investment: $125 million for the building and $250 million more for the license. Its hoped that the new casino, along with the one in Shelbyville, will bring millions more to state coffers.
Hundreds of millions of dollars in the license fees alone are providing property tax relief for Hoosiers.
Madison and Shelby Counties are seeing their budgets benefit as well.
2008-06-02
