“Young men who do not go to casinos will be attracted because of the sports element.” However, despite promising to bring in new tax revenues and jobs, gambling critics aren’t convinced it was the right choice for the area.Ĭritic Anita Bedell told WGN-TV : “The younger people, they don’t like slot machines but they do like sports. The state is set to collect 15% of the proceeds from sports betting to put towards ‘capital improvements’. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb officially signed the new law allowing 13 brick-and-mortar casinos to apply for licenses in May of this year. It was organized just in time for the Bears-Packers game on Thursday, the start of the 100th season of the National Football League. Indiana officials held the ribbon-cutting on Wednesday to celebrate the legalization of sports betting, which will end the need for Chicagoans to travel to Las Vegas to place a sporting bet.
The sportsbook opening at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana this week has been met with mixed feelings from the locals.
