Tropicana Evansville seeks state approval for onshore casino

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - The fate of Tropicana Evansville's plans to move from its current riverboat docked along the Ohio River to a new $50 million onshore facility will be considered at an Indiana Gaming Commission meeting later this month.

The casino has two hurdles before opening, the Evansville Courier & Press (http://bit.ly/20roJts ) reported. The commission must approve Tropicana's revised lease with the city of Evansville and approve the casino's request to move from a riverboat to a land-based facility.

Both issues are expected to be on the agenda at the commission's meeting Feb. 24 in Indianapolis. Representatives from Tropicana will attend the meeting to give a presentation to commission members, said John Chaszar, the casino's general manager.

Last year, Indiana lawmakers passed legislation enabling casinos to move from riverboat to land if they receive permission from the commission. Tropicana will be the state's first casino to go through the process.

"This is the first casino to avail themselves of the new inland casino provision," said Sara Tait, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission. "We look forward to seeing the plans and seeing the presentation."

Attorneys representing Tropicana have been in contact with the commission about the casino's plans, Chaszar said, so he expects the meeting to go smoothly.

Tropicana's current plans include demolition of the "Maple" wing of its executive conference center inside its casino complex.

"Those meeting rooms are definitely in the middle of what we want to do," Chaszar said. "It was unfortunate we had to lose the space, but it's all in the best interest of our long-term plans."

The new casino would sit between the company's Tropicana and Le Merigot hotels.

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com