ANDERSON — Fearing lawmakers might fail to produce a budget, Hoosier Park and other state gambling sites went to court Tuesday and got an order to prevent a state shutdown in such an event.
Marion County Superior Court Judge John F. Hanley issued an injunction that barred Gov. Mitch Daniels and state agencies from closing casinos and race tracks if a budget had not been approved. Hanley sided with casino operators who said the state had no grounds to close the sites amid the budget crisis.
Daniels had threatened Tuesday to close the gaming sites if a budget had not been approved by midnight. He had claimed that state gaming regulators were nonessential state employees who would be furloughed without a budget.
Hanley disagreed and ruled that closing casinos and race tracks would provide no benefit to the state and would irreparably harm the gaming sites.
“All costs associated with the enforcement of the Indiana Gaming Commission’s powers and duties are paid for directly by the casinos, including all the costs associated with gaming agents who are on site in every casino,” Hanley ruled. “No monies are expended by the state of Indiana to pay for gaming agents or the cost of enforcing regulations.”
The Casino Association of Indiana filed its request for an injunction against Daniels, the Gaming Commission and the Indiana Attorney General’s office. It sued on behalf of the state’s gaming sites, including Hoosier Park.
“I think we presented a very good case,” said Jim Brown, Hoosier Park director of gaming.
While approval of a state budget averted a possible shutdown, Tuesday’s ruling could set a precedent if the state finds itself in a similar future financial crisis.
Hanley’s order set a hearing of giving the state until July 8 to show why his injunction should not be made permanent.
For Brown, the ruling ended days of planning for the possibility of a state-imposed shutdown ahead of one of Hoosier Park’s biggest weekends.
“It was interesting,” Brown said. “I’m just extremely happy that we’re going to be open and celebrating an exciting Fourth of July weekend.”
--------
Indiana casinos by the numbers
$6.6 billion: Amount paid to state and local wagering taxes since legalized.
$1.2 billion: Admission taxes paid to state and local governments.
$3 million: State tax revenue collected per day.
16,000: Number of casino employees.
Local Business
Hoosier Park gets court order to stay open
- Local Business
-
-
Local man kept Super Bowl books
Brad Bowman didn’t hobnob with Hollywood stars or escort sports notables around Indianapolis. Important as those duties were Super Bowl week, his job as chief financial officer of the host committee was more vital, if less glamorous.
-
Susan Miller: In business dining, good taste means more than food
A successful business meal requires more than making a lunch date. A deal can sometimes be sealed over the table, but more often than not, a business lunch provides an opportunity to build rapport and learn about your dining companion’s business.
-
Local hair salon raises money to prevent cancer patient hair loss
The owner of a local hair salon is leading the fundraising to bring an experimental treatment that helps chemotherapy patients keep their hair to Anderson.
-
Mortgage-fraud settlement money could benefit low-income Hoosiers
Low-income families struggling to pay their heating bills may get some relief from an unexpected source: The multi-billion-dollar settlement from banks accused of abusive mortgage practices.
-
Executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank will retire
Lois Rockhill will soon retire as executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, but she’s not the only one full of memories of her 23 years there. Many other people have their own.
-
Anderson hires consultant to assess software
The city has hired a consultant to help the controller’s office assess financial software that Anderson has used for many years, but typically has not been effective.
-
Bedbugs found at Indianapolis children's hospital
An infestation of bedbugs discovered in a room at the Riley Hospital for Children has been contained, a spokeswoman for the Indiana University Health said Monday.
-
Emmett Dulaney: When Twitter backfires
Twitter, that innocuous social media tool that lets users send out 140 character snippets to their followers, is being used more and more as a marketing tool.
-
Speedway will acquire 88 GasAmerica stores
Nine area GasAmerica stores will be sold to Speedway LLC of Enon, Ohio, as part of a larger acquisition of Gas America Services Inc., company officials said Monday.
-
First Merchants says Shelbyville acquisition will aid bottom line
First Merchants Bank believes its weekend acquisition of a failing Shelbyville bank will immediately add to the financial institution’s bottom line.
- More Local Business Headlines
-
