Casino waiting for vote

By Nov. 4, Indiana's 11th casino could be approved for construction in Orange County.\nApproval for the riverboat casino, which includes the towns of French Lick, Orleans, Paoli and West Baden Springs, is set to be located between French Lick and West Baden. A referendum is pending on whether a gambling establishment should be placed there. \nFrench Lick and West Baden, famous for their picturesque scenery and historic hotels, are deeply divided over the establishment of a new riverboat gambling hall. \nThe economically-struggling county has been polarized over the pending construction of the casino that would be docked between two hotels struggling for solid business. \nJody Ream, president of the Paoli Chamber of Commerce, said the town has lost 1,000 manufacturing jobs in the past two years. \n"The manufacturing business in this town has been the staple of the community for many generations," Ream said. "With the loss of these jobs, the people of this community need an economic boost." \nOrange County residents are debating whether gambling is an appropriate solution to their economic woes. Supporters of the project believe the new casino will replace many of the jobs that have been lost. \nRobert Hoyt, a member of the Orange County Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, disagrees that the casino would boost the county's economy. \n"The 2001 Crowe Chizek report stated that 90 percent of gamblers that go to a casino are from the area in which the casino is built," Hoyt said. "This would not solve our economic troubles, it would just make them worse. People will spend the money that they earn on gambling and won't put it back into the community businesses." \nThose opposed to the Orange County casino have constructed a Web site, www.No-Casino.org, that champions their ideals. They have also entertained guest speaker Rob Walgate, a former addicted gambler, to promote the dangers of college and community gambling. \n"Gambling is addictive and community members and college students from nearby Bloomington are in danger of losing their savings and college tuition should a casino be built nearby," Hoyt said.\nThose who oppose the casino have also called upon the head official from the Illinois State Crime Commission to speak on their behalf and express the prospects of an increase in crime associated with the gambling industry. \nOpponents fear the casino could create an environment for illegal activity, causing increased crime rates and gambling addictions as well as drawing transients into the towns. \nProponents of the construction of the casino emphasize the prospect that many jobs will become available with its opening, and other businesses will be attracted to a growing local economy. They argue that jobs that have been lost would be replaced, turning around the county's economy. \n"A casino is not necessarily the best cure-all for our economic problems," Ream said. "But in this situation, I find there to be more positive aspects to bringing the casino here than negative ones." \nThe casino would be located between the French Lick and West Baden Springs hotels, both of which have had financial trouble in past years because of the loss of business and economic hardship. The casino would also generate tax dollars, which could potentially revitalize the community's government and public services.\nCasino supporters, like resident Adena Cloud, dream of the return of Orange County's economy to the fortunes of the 20s when the rich and famous would come to relax in the natural springs of the resort community. Cloud said she believes a casino would be the end to economic hardships.\n"We need this casino to boost our commercialized economy," Cloud said. "The casino will create many different forms of revenue. If we do not receive this revenue, Orange County will become desolate and crime will increase, making this a place that my daughter will not feel safe living in when she raises a family of her own." \nSupporters of casino development have rallied together and have organized fund-raisers, finance brochures and advertisements persuading others to join their cause. \nTwo main figureheads are vying for the rights to the casino. The first is an investment group headed by Larry Bird, the president of the Indiana Pacers. The Indiana native has stated that all of his profits will be donated to charity. The second group interested in the property is headed by Donald Trump. \nThe final decision made Nov. 4 will force the county to vote on a referendum. If the referendum passes, it will then be reviewed by the Indiana Gaming Commission. According to the commission, it will decide which company would gain the property rights to the casino. The judgment will be based on the reputability of other endeavors in Bird's and Trump's dealings, their financial stability and the number of jobs and other contributions that each casino plan would provide for the community. But ultimately, the decision of the casino is left in the hands of the people of the Orange County community.\n-- Contact staff writer Kourtney Schepman at kschepma@indiana.edu.