Indiana rule
change to boost high-roller casino traffic
The
Indiana Gaming Commission approved a new rule that will make
business cheaper and easier for so-called "junketeers", i.e.
companies which organize casino trips and get paid according to
their players' losses. Under the rule change, junketeers no
longer must be licensed casino suppliers and will no longer have
to pay a hefty $5,000 fee. Instead, these firms will pay $250
for license with the state and $75 for each individual
junketeer. The change is already in effect through an emergency
rule, and the commission plans to make it permanent after a July
29 public hearing.
"Our casinos are becoming more destination
resort-style facilities. We would certainly like to see more
people from out of state come visit. The goal is to see if we
can help the casinos generate more revenue from high-level
players," said Jennifer Arnold, the Indiana gaming
commission's deputy director. According to some estimates, the
change of the junketeers rule could bring additional $20 million
in gambling revenue to the Indiana casinos, previously lost due
to the high fee. As a rule of thumb, the casino players brought
in by the junketeers tend to spend more money than the average
gambler, since the company is paid on the money they lose (or
potential loss).
Published on
07/07/2008
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