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Casinos have opened this year in Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo.
Some Indiana casinos are going on offense. The Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun plans to open a new hotel, while Lawrenceburg is adding a convention center.
But Casino Association of Indiana president Mike Smith says the casinos will be asking legislators for tax relief to make similar investments easier. The association wants to make wagering taxes deductible on casinos‘ income taxes.
And casinos have long sought reversal of a ruling that “free play” promotions are subject to wagering taxes. State budget analysts expect casino tax revenue to drop $25 million this fiscal year — that‘s with Cincinnati online only for the last few months of the year.
Smith says the competition could cost the state four times that. Three Ohio casinos opened in 2012 along with one in Hartford, Michigan. Illinois has given the green light for five new casinos.
