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Dockside Gaming Debuts at Seven Indiana Casinos

"Spirits were high Thursday as gamblers entered and left the Casino Aztar freely for the first time Thursday under state guidelines that allow dockside gambling.

"The Indiana Gaming Commission gave the go-ahead Monday for seven of the state's 10 casinos to begin offering dockside gambling.

"The new rules mean customers no longer have to arrive at scheduled times to take two-hour cruises on Lake Michigan or the Ohio River. Even during inclement weather when the boats were docked, the casinos were only allowed to board gamblers every two hours.

"…The General Assembly loosened riverboat's restrictions during the recent special session. Lawmakers hope tens of millions of dollars will be generated in taxes from the casinos because a graduated wagering tax is imposed on riverboats that choose to implement the dockside gambling.

"Jennifer Arnold of the Indiana Gaming Commission said she had heard of no problems resulting from the switch to dockside gambling.

"…Larry Kinser, the general manager of Argosy in Lawrenceburg, Ind., said his staff was expecting a larger-than-normal crowd this weekend as word spread about dockside operations.

"…Aztar officials hope to bring back the 15 percent in revenues the casino lost when Illinois in 2000 began offering dockside gambling, said casino spokeswoman Pam Martin.

"…Three of the state's casinos -- Harrah's in East Chicago, Ind., and Trump and Majestic Star in Gary, Ind., -- have to wait until Monday to offer the dockside gambling.

"The commission chose to punish the three for advertising dockside gambling before the commission formally approved it…"

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