Indiana needs to allow dockside gambling so its riverboatscan stay competitive against a possible new venture across the stateline in Chicago, the mayors of Hammond and Gary argue.
Illinois Gov. Ryan indicated last week he would sign legislationallowing gambling in Chicago and Cook County if it were needed topass a larger gambling package. Ryan also reiterated his support fordockside gaming.
Gary Mayor Scott King said the Indiana Legislature has missed anopportunity this session to make the state more competitive withsurrounding states."Indiana needs to be `proactive,' and now it's impossible forthe legislature to do anything for this session. All we can do iscontinue to urge state legislators to go to dockside gaming," Kingsaid."It's still a brand new industry nationwide," King said. "Ifyou're going to be in it, you have to be as competitive as you can.It's all about competition."In Illinois, Ryan said he doesn't support creating new gamblinglicenses but would advocate letting an unused license be transferredto Cook County.In 1998, Gary received about $25 million from its casinos whileHammond secured about $30 million in gaming revenue. That's moneyneither mayor wants to lose."Dockside here needs to be discussed," Hammond Mayor DuaneDedelow said. "Even if there was gaming within Cook County, we wouldstill be competitive, but we need to look at additional ways toprotect our industry."King scoffed at the pretense involved in having Indianariverboats on a sailing schedule."Cruising's total fiction," he said. "All the schedule does isguarantee a traffic jam every hour. Having dockside or land-basedgaming will allow us to redevelop our waterfront and give usstability in the marketplace."
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