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French Lick Casino Delay Concerns Locals

FRENCH LICK, Indiana – As reported by the Kentucky Courier-Journal: "As they drive to work, Trish Tuell and her daughter Becky talk often of finding hotel housekeeping jobs closer to home in Orange County.

"Instead of cleaning rooms at the Holiday Inn in Bedford, they have been hoping to get work at one of the French Lick or West Baden hotels where overnight guests of the planned Orange County casino will stay.

"…Less than a year ago, a casino seemed tantalizingly close to reality in Orange County, after voters gave it final approval and the state selected an operator.

"But since then, those prospects have dimmed -- leading many residents to wonder whether the project will ever get off the ground.

"…Last summer the state chose the casino company owned by billionaire Donald Trump to operate the casino, which would be Indiana's 11th. But since then, the company -- Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts -- has endured a string of setbacks:

"…Although state gambling regulators say they remain confident that a casino will be built in Orange County, the gambling commission's staff is now hedging on Trump's role and on setting a timeline.

"…Meanwhile, Yelton and Orange County casino supporters were surprised last week when Scott Butera, the Trump company's chief operating officer, was quoted as telling the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger newspaper that the company might pull out of the Orange County project.

"…He said company officials were forced to re-evaluate their strategy in light of several factors, including the potential for new gambling in Indiana and the need for Trump to make a play in bigger markets…"

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