Senate approves bill for casino

INDIANAPOLIS -- The state Senate approved legislation Monday to allow a casino in southern Indiana's economically depressed Orange County, bringing proponents to the brink of fulfilling a yearslong push in the General Assembly.\nThe Senate voted 32-18 for the bill after more than an hour of debate. Dozens of casino boosters from French Lick and West Baden Springs applauded softly and waved from the Senate gallery as the tally was announced.\nTheir immediate reaction was muted only because the Senate observes a more orderly decorum than the House, and it asks the same of the public watching from seats a floor above.\nBut many supporters hugged after they spilled into the hallway, and they formed a semi-circle around Democratic Rep. Jerry Denbo of French Lick, the proposal's longtime sponsor. He thanked them for coming to the Statehouse year after year to lobby their cause.\n"You need to congratulate yourselves and pat yourself on the back. It was a total team effort," Denbo said.\nAlthough the legislation must return to the House for consideration of changes made in the Senate, Denbo said he will sign off on the amendments and ask for a simple concurrence vote in his chamber.\nIf he gets a concurrence vote -- and it seems almost certain he will this week -- the bill would be sent to Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who supports the proposal.\nThe bill would authorize a casino to be located in a yet-to-be-constructed waterway between French Lick and West Baden Springs. However, it would first have to be approved in a countywide referendum.