Evansville Casino Set For October Opening
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana’s first land-based casino will open to the public next month. Tropicana Evansville General Manager John Chaszar says the $50 million casino will begin operation October 20 after being on a riverboat for more than 20 years.
The move inland is the result of legislation passed in 2015 by the Indiana General Assembly allowing riverboat casinos to move to land. At a news conference Tuesday, Chaszar said having a land-based facility puts the casino on an even playing field with its competitors in neighboring states.
"It’s appropriate, us being the first casino in the state of Indiana and it’s appropriate for us to be the first ones to take advantage of the new land-based legislation," Chaszar said. "When (the casino) first came to Evansville, it was a new milestone for the city of Evansville and we’re really looking forward to this next era of entertainment."
Chaszar added the current riverboat has been sold, however confidentiality reasons prevented him from naming the buyer. He said the vessel will be moved and, sometime in 2018, he expects the historic USS LST 325 warship will take its place.