The deals approved Thursday change ownership at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Belterra Casino Resort in Switzerland County and Ameristar Casino in East Chicago.
At the same meeting in which Caesars Entertainment received approval for its $1.7 billion acquisition of Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand, the Indiana Gaming Commission hit the casino giant with one of the biggest fines it has ever issued.
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission gave approval Wednesday to Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s plan to acquire Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand in Shelbyville. The deal still needs approval from the Indiana Gaming Commission.
The owner of two horse track casinos near Indianapolis is preparing to pay a $50 million state fee as part of its sale to casino giant Caesars Entertainment Corp.
Centaur, which owns and operates Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, said its 2,000 or so employees would receive the checks next week.
Rep. Alan Morrison, R-Terre Haute, said he sees no conflict of interest in taking a job with a division of Mulhaupt’s, the private Lafayette firm given control over which companies could manufacturer e-liquids to sell in Indiana.
Three of the six firms initially authorized under a controversial law to manufacture e-liquids for sale in Indiana have owners who either work for Centaur or were shareholders in the company before it filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010.
The state-of-the-art Centaur Regional Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center will provide health services to horses and serve as a working laboratory to support the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Indiana lawmakers bought the state’s embattled casino industry time, but the new protections might not be enough to ensure each gambling parlor’s long-term survival.
The proposal endorsed in a 36-13 vote Thursday would not permit live dealers for table games at the two horse track casinos near Indianapolis until 2021.
Centaur Gaming plans to release an annual report this week that plays up its charitable contributions and tax payments as state senators debate whether to allow the company to add live dealers at its central Indiana racetrack casinos.
Indianapolis-based Centaur Gaming said Monday its site in Merrillville will close March 15. The site opened in 1995 and employs 33 people.
The Indiana Grand Casino and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville announced that the once-separate gaming and racing facilities will now operate as one under the new Indiana Grand Racing & Casino name.
Indiana companies are planning different methods to adapt to the health care landscape next year.
The Indiana Gaming Commission might allow the use of casino issued iPads for gambling on casino premises.
Centaur Holdings LLC plans to concentrate all thoroughbred racing at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville and all standardbred harness racing at Hoosier Park in Anderson once it clears regulatory hurdles to take control of the Shelbyville track.
Politics and real estate helped round out 2012’s news of note.
Two racetrack owners have signaled they’re interested in buying Indiana Live racetrack and casino in Shelbyville as the facility begins to sort out its massive debt.
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino owner Centaur LLC last week won court approval of its plan to cut debt by about $636 million and exit bankruptcy.
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s parent company could emerge from bankruptcy early next year if creditors approve a reorganization plan that’s set for a court hearing in Delaware on Feb. 1.
