Regarding HEA 1015 Gov. Holcomb made the following statement:“Gaming is a highly regulated industry that once had little competition, but now does from surrounding states and new technology. By modernizing our laws, this legislation will spur positive economic growth for our state and for an industry that employs over 11,000 Hoosiers. Additionally, it will bring in new revenue and create hundreds of new jobs – both permanent and in construction. I will direct the Indiana Gaming Commission to monitor for potential effects of this bill so that we can make necessary changes in future legislative sessions.” Details on the bill can be found on http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1015#digest-heading .The American Gaming Commision weighed in by stating on Wednesday,“Today, Indiana became the 13th new jurisdiction to legalize sports betting after the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting last May. Now, Indiana can establish a safe and effective framework to protect its consumers from illegal markets while creating economic benefits for local communities.The American Gaming Association (AGA) released the following statement about Indiana’s bill passage:“Indiana is one step closer to reaping the benefits of legal, regulated sports betting with a framework founded on a sensible tax rate and free from unnecessary league fees or carveouts. The bill enables conveniences like mobile wagering and a safe alternative to the pervasive illegal market for the millions of Hoosiers who are already betting on sports.” -Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs”The Commission added, “The state’s 14 casino gaming locations already employ 22,133 people and generate $1.3 billion annually in tax revenue and tribal share payments. Legal sports betting could potentially generate an additional $176.4 million in annual tax revenue and employ 5,262 more Hoosiers.These numbers come from research by the American Gaming Association and Oxford Economics and are dependent upon tax rates, the convenience of accessing sports betting and a mature market.”