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Indiana Getting Slots in 2008

January 2, 2008

Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville — are racing to bring slot-machine gaming to the public.

In April, the Indiana legislature approved House Bill 1835, authorizing 2,000 slot machines for each race track with a $250 million licensing fee attached

Hoosier Park has unveiled plans to open a 92,000 square-foot “racino” in June. The new building will connect to the current grandstand building by a walkway and will feature a restaurant and lounge area.

Indiana Downs, meanwhile, plans to open a 48,000 square-foot temporary facility in April while a permanent 228,000-square-foot casino is completed.

In addition to construction costs, both tracks must also be ready in November to pay the final $100 million installment of the licensing fee required by the state. With just 55 miles separating Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs, the competition for customers will be intense.

As Indiana’s two pari-mutuel horse racing tracks vie to bring Indiana horse racing into the next generation, the stakes are high.