Indiana Gaming Commission To Vote On Terre Haute Casino License Today

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Laying It On The Table: Indiana Gaming Commission To Vote On Terre Haute Casino License Today

IBJ-THE RUNDOWN

by LINDSEY ERDODY

After a months-long delay, the Indiana Gaming Commission is poised to move ahead with awarding the Vigo County casino license later today.

The commission initially planned to meet Feb. 7 to consider awarding a casino license to a subsidiary of Spectacle Entertainment, which is owned in part by former executives of Centaur Gaming.

But that all changed once a federal plea deal became public on Jan. 23 allegings that Centaur and John Keeler, then-vice president and general counsel for the company, were involved in funneling thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to an Indiana congressional candidate in 2015.

So what has changed to make the commission OK with voting on the license? Keeler and former Centaur Chairman and CEO Rod Ratcliff, who has the same role as Spectacle, are no longer investors in the subsidiary that is pursuing the Terre Haute casino.

But, it’s important to note, they are still with Spectacle Entertainment.

The commission meets at 11 a.m. Watch IBJ.com for updates after the meeting.