BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Gaming Commission members made it clear Friday that Crawford County has virtually no chance of winning the state's final riverboat casino license.
With only one month left before it is to be awarded, the county lacks funding, a casino operator and a specific plan. It is almost certain that the license will instead go to the town of Vevay in Switzerland County, about 60 miles southwest of Cincinnati.
Yet there are two things Crawford County's pro-casino representatives have in abundance: stubborn dreams and an unwillingness to admit defeat.
"Thirty days is an eternity in a business like this. We are actively pursuing gaming operators," said Doug Floyd, an attorney for the Crawford County Casino Corp., which learned this week that Casino America Inc. is no longer interested in building and operating its riverboat.
But Jack Thar, executive director of the Gaming Commission, pointed out that the deadline for the county to submit a revised riverboat plan came and went this week. And even if the most were to be made of the remaining month, and the commission decided to hear another plea, he said, "in truth, (the county) cannot put a plan together in 30 days . . . and do it well.
"I don't want to be the one to dash hopes, but I want to look at reality."
Over the last year, Crawford County has lost three potential casino operators. Still, officials want one last chance to make something happen.
"I'm not trying to be unrealistic," Mr. Floyd said. "I'm telling you we're doing our level best, and there's no benefit to the state of Indiana in closing the door on us."
Commission members agreed to take no formal action on awarding the license until next month.
The commissioners appeared weary of the discussion, which has dragged on for more than two years as they waited to see if the Greater Cincinnati market could support three riverboat casinos. Their concerns were apparently assuaged with the success of Grand Victoria Casino & Resort in Rising Sun, as well as Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg, which attracted more visitors and gambling dollars in May and June than any other floating casino in the country.
The commission voted in May to award the last of the state's 10 casino licenses at its September meeting.
Five riverboats already operate on Lake Michigan in the Greater Chicagoland market; Argosy, Grand Victoria and Casino Aztar in Evansville cruise the Ohio River; and a Caesars World boat is being built on that waterway in Harrison County.
State officials have said Indiana is the nation's top cruising riverboat state.
However, the rapid spread of Indiana's gambling industry is not welcome news for everyone.
Floyd Coates, chairman of Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, presented the commission with petitions bearing the signatures of 800 southwestern Indiana residents who oppose gambling on moral and sociological grounds.
"As a child, I was taught the timeless principles of hard work, frugality and perseverance. Now folks are pinning their hopes on winning the lottery or hitting it big on one of Indiana's new riverboat casinos," he said. "The message being sent to our young people is clear: You don't have to work hard to strike it rich, you just have to get lucky.
"Nothing could be further from the truth."
Vevay City Councilman Pete Furnish pointed out that in a 1994 Switzerland County referendum, gambling was approved by just 167 votes. Mr. Coates said in that election, anti-gambling forces spent just $100 lobbying while out-of-state casino companies spent more than $50,000.
"In our county, we don't have a lot of rich people who can fight it," said Switzerland County resident Ken Callis.
In fact, Switzerland and Crawford counties are the state's two poorest. While those in favor of gambling say that is exactly why the casinos are needed, opponents contend that it just makes them easy marks.
Mr. Furnish said a riverboat casino in his county, with a population of just over 7,000 and virtually no unemployment, will draw employees away from existing businesses. And he worries that gamblers will clog local roads and crowd out tourists who come for Vevay's historic homes, vineyards and natural beauty. He said that even if they pump millions of dollars into the local economy, casinos will hurt the community.
"In Rising Sun and Lawrenceburg, there's nobody there. They're the most beautiful ghost towns in the world," he said. "And in my town, I don't ever lock a door. I leave my car open with a cellular phone inside and nothing ever happens. I don't want that to change." Michael Bailey, of Indiana Citizens Against Gambling, pointed out that state and federal commissions are meeting this year to determine the social impact of gambling on a community and its culture. He said the Gaming Commission should at least wait until the results are in, before licensing another casino boat.
But Switzerland County officials who welcome gambling are more than anxious to get started. County Council President Michael Jones said he is "very optimistic. . . . Everything's pointing our way."
After learning that Crawford County lost its potential casino operator, Switzerland County officials decided to boost the amount of riverboat revenue it will share with that county each year, from $500,000 to $1 million. And Hollywood Park Inc. and Boomtown Inc., which would run the Vevay boat, said they would also voluntarily give Crawford County a larger share of their profits, up to at least 0.425 percent.
Crawford County Councilman Dan Crecelius said any extra income is welcome. But he still has hopes, though they are fading, that his county will get the lion's share from a boat of its own.
"You really never know," he said grimly. "Anything can happen."
