Crackdown on Illegal Gambling Could Lead to Changes in Law

By Jim Shella 24 Hour News 8 (Indianapolis) - State government is conducting a crackdown on illegal gambling, yet the governor says he is open to a change in the law that would legalize much of the illegal activity coming under fire.Right now it's illegal to gamble at the corner bar or the neighborhood VFW, but the crackdown on those establishments may give momentum to a proposed change in the law. The Fort Wayne American Legion post has shut down because members can no longer afford to pay the mortgage. They lost a major source of revenue last month - video gambling machines known as cherry masters - when officers from the state alcohol and tobacco commission conducted a raid. Bars and clubs around the state are on notice. “The commission has taken a very aggressive stance in making sure that the illegal machines are not operational anymore,” said Michael Curts, Licensed Beverage Association. There are an estimated 30,000 cherry masters statewide. The crackdown was ordered by the governor. “I think we oughta not have laws on the books we don't enforce. I swore an oath to uphold the laws of this state,” said Gov. Daniels. Daniels knows that the raids are unpopular. “A lot of these veterans' organizations, they're not gonna be supporting these people that are in office now -- we'll guarantee that,” said Jim Cuellar, a veteran. But the governor is open to a change in the law. He has support from some lawmakers. “It has been my position that we should legalize these things, regulate and tax them and the organizations and the state would get money and the state would solve some of its budget problems,” said Rep. Win Moses (D-Fort Wayne). It’s a circumstance that could come to a head when lawmakers reconvene next year. In the meantime, the raids go on. “We continue to investigate those complaints but the results are varied. Some places have removed the machines, some places still have them,” said Lt. John Folk, excise police. Meantime, the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association has produced a study which says that if cherry masters were taxed at 40 percent, bar owners would make more money and the state could raise close to $400 million to address its budget problems. Leaders of the organization say they will work very hard this summer to win support for the idea.