BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After years of fierce competition for the fifth and final casino gaming license on the Ohio River in Indiana, Switzerland County suddenly finds itself alone on the field.
Crawford County, the only other serious contender, is apparently out of the race after losing its proposed casino operator. Casino America Inc., which was expected to present its final application to the Indiana Gaming Commission on Thursday, instead sent its regrets.
In dropping out, Biloxi, Miss.-based Casino America cited high construction costs and expected tough competition from Caesars Indiana's $300 million Harrison County riverboat.
"I would say that Crawford County's ability to have an applicant to meet the deadline that is today would be nigh on impossible," Gaming Commission Executive Director Jack Thar said Thursday. "Although anything could happen, it would be denying the facts to say that Switzerland County isn't a heavy favorite."
That would mean a third riverboat could enter the Greater Cincinnati market, providing more competition to Argosy Casino Lawrenceburg -- the country's largest and most successful floating casino -- and Grand Victoria Casino & Resort in Rising Sun.
Vevay, the proposed Switzerland County riverboat site, is about 60 miles southwest of Cincinnati. Crawford County is roughly 35 miles from Louisville.
The Indiana Gaming Commission, which is responsible for licensing and regulating the state's 10 allowable riverboat casinos -- five on the Ohio River and five on Lake Michigan in the Chicagoland market -- voted in May to award the last available license at its regular September meeting. According to Mr. Thar, it is still likely to do so.
Yet most of the players involved expect Crawford County officials to plead for a delay at the Indiana Gaming Commission meeting today in Indianapolis.
Crawford County officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.
"It's understandable that they would ask the commission for more time in the hope that a new gaming partner would choose to seek the license. We don't see that as likely, but we do expect Crawford County to make the request," said Pat Traub, spokesman for the Switzerland County Council.
But Mr. Thar said unless Crawford County can come forward with another potential casino operator, a delay is not likely.
Both counties -- among Indiana's poorest -- have hungrily eyed the economic boon expected to come with a successful riverboat casino.
Switzerland County Council President Michael Jones said the $150 million riverboat that Los Angeles-based Hollywood Park Inc. and Reno, Nev.-based Boomtown Inc. propose to build in Vevay would provide up to 1,500 jobs. And the county budget that now stands at $1 million annually could swell up to $12 million a year.
Although Crawford County now seems sure to miss out on the biggest piece of the pie, a revenue-sharing agreement proposed by Switzerland County would bring an estimated $1 million a year to Crawford County; $500,000 to Ripley County; and $1 million to Jefferson County.
The final obstacle is the approval by the Gaming Commission, which has delayed awarding the fifth gaming license for more than two years. Its members had initially said they were concerned that the southern Indiana market would not be able to support five riverboats, but those fears have been laid to rest.
"What has happened in the market, and I think we've displayed that very well, is that everyone along the (Ohio) river is doing practically beyond their wildest dreams better than they had thought they would," Mr. Traub said. "We're convinced that the market is woefully underserved."
