EVANSVILLE - Gov. Mike Pence was noncommittal Friday whether he will sign legislation enabling riverboat casinos such as Tropicana Evansville to move on land-based facilities.
“We are studying the legislation right now,” Pence told reporters during a visit to Pie Pan on Evansville’s North Side. “I’m keeping an open mind about it. I think there was a good-faith effort in the legislative process to try to address the framework that I outlined. I don’t support an expansion of gaming, but I have always said that I am very open to some common sense changes that would allow these various gaming institutions to be more competitive. And so, I’m going to really consider that legislation from that standpoint, and we’ll make a decision in the next week.”
Pence may either sign the legislation, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it. It passed the House and Senate by large margins.
Moving Tropicana Evansville on land is a priority for Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and the City Council, which unanimously passed a resolution favoring that step. Casino revenues are a source of capital revenues for both Evansville and Vanderburgh County governments.
Asked if he is leaning one way on the bill, Pence said, “Honestly, I’ve got a very tall pile of legislation on my desk. This weekend, I’ll be taking home a lot of information, and that’s one of the bills we’ll be taking a very serious look at. ... I want to take the time to better understand it before we make a final decision.”
Winnecke, who greeted and introduced Pence at Pie Pan, said on Twitter that he will “continue to make our case for land-based gaming to Gov. Pence.”
Tropicana Evansville General Manager Jason Gregorec also came to the restaurant to see Pence.
“Right now, we’re on a 20-year-old vessel, three levels,” Gregorec said. “It’s very hard to get to. If we are able to put it next to the hotel, next to the parking structure, it’s very convenient. Single level, 30-foot ceilings, more comfortable, we’re able to offer more non-gaming amenities ... We need to create more of an environment where it’s a full entertainment destination. Not to mention the construction jobs, the increased land values.”