DeLaney warns against measure to defund the gaming police

Today, the conference committee report for Senate Bill 256 passed the House. It removed funding for the commission responsible for overseeing the gaming and casino industry. This comes just months after the bombshell indictment of a former state representative accused of accepting a job in exchange for favors for a large casino company. The bill passed 57-39, with 11 Republicans voting against it. 

“Republicans are defunding the gaming commission so that it cannot do its job,” DeLaney said. “At a time when a recent legislator and the gaming industry are under federal criminal investigation, we should not be crippling the entity responsible for oversight. 

“The gaming commission has helped uncover corruption and self-dealing in the industry and needs to maintain its ability to do that work. Defunding the gaming police will do nothing to build confidence in the integrity of our casinos and online gaming among voters, or among gamblers.

“As my colleague Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis) said, ‘when you pray for rain, you have to deal with the mud.’ I hope the Republicans can get this off their shoes.”