Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes riverboat casinos to relocate to inland locations and expands certain gaming rights.

Highlights:

• Authorizes riverboat gambling conducted by a licensed official or agent at an allowable event of a qualified organization (Sec. 6).

• Expands the definition of “riverboat” to include lawful gambling at an inland casino (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that a property is considered to be adjacent to a riverboat dock site even if it is separated from the dock site by public or railroad rights-of-way (Sec. 14).

• Prohibits a licensed owner from offering gaming positions in an inland facility exceeding the greatest number of gaming positions offered by a licensed owner in a docked riverboat since January 1, 2007 (Sec. 14).

• Authorizes the governor to negotiate and execute tribal-state gaming compacts with Indian tribes (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes riverboat casinos to relocate to inland locations and expands certain gaming rights.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a licensed owner of a riverboat casino to relocate gaming operations from a docked riverboat to an inland casino if the following conditions are met, beginning July 1, 2015 (Sec. 10):
• The inland casino is located on property that the owner owned or leased and used to carry out gaming operations on February 1, 2015;
• The inland casino is located on property adjacent to the docked riverboat; and
• The inland casino’s location is approved by the Gaming Commission and complies with requirements imposed by the commission.

• Prohibits the number of gaming positions offered at an inland casino from exceeding the number of positions that were offered on the licensed owner’s docked riverboat on February 1, 2015 (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes a licensed owner of a horse racetrack casino to install a “table game” if the following conditions are met, beginning July 1, 2015 (Sec. 40):
• The licensed owner submits a plan to the commission for the table games;
• The licensed owner does not install more “table games” than the number specified in the plan, which may not exceed 50 percent of the “electronic table games” in operation on February 1, 2015; and
• The licensed owner removes 1 “electronic table game” for each “table game” installed.

• Defines “table game” as an apparatus used to gamble upon, including, but not limited to, a roulette table, blackjack table, craps table, and poker table (Sec. 21). 

• Defines “electronic table game” as the following games that an individual plays at a table with multiple positions without human assistance (Sec. 40): 
• Baccarat;
• Blackjack;
• Poker;
• Craps; and 
• Roulette.

• Authorizes a licensed owner of a horse racetrack casino to apply to the commission for approval to install additional table game positions after 5 years of conducting table games under an approved plan (Sec. 40).

• Extends the period in which a licensed owner of a riverboat or racetrack casino is authorized to make a tax deduction for casino vouchers, coupons, credits, and promotions to July 1, 2018 (Sec. 41).

• Authorizes a licensed owner, operating agent, or permit holder of a riverboat or racetrack casino to claim a tax credit of 10 percent of a “qualified capital investment,” which shall not exceed $40 million (Sec. 56).

• Defines “qualified capital investment” as a capital investment of at least $2 million that is made for the construction or improvement of a gaming facility or the property on which a gaming facility is located between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020 (Sec. 56).

• Specifies that the Legislative Council “is urged to assign” a study of the impact and use of casino tax revenues as a funding source for local governments to an interim study committee and requires the committee to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the council before November 1, 2015 (Sec. 61).

Full Bill Text