OFFBEAT: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa welcomes expansion, including new Rise Kitchen eatery

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Speedway bailout crosses finish line

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence has agreed to loan the Indianapolis Motor Speedway $100 million in state funds to pay for renovations, video boards and other improvements to the home of the Indianapolis 500 auto race.

New Illinois casinos could bust Indiana's budget

INDIANAPOLIS | The ink is barely dry on Indiana's two-year state budget legislation, but the potential for new Illinois casinos is threatening to throw the Hoosier spending and tax cut plan out of balance.

General Assembly wraps session distinguished by cooperative tone

INDIANAPOLIS | Hands were shaken, hugs were shared and state lawmakers, who spent the past four months passionately opposing each other in great and small policy debates, were all smiles Saturday morning after House Speaker Brian Bosma gaveled out the 2013 Indiana General Assembly.

Legislature meets into the night to complete its work

INDIANAPOLIS | Following four months of proposing, reviewing, bargaining, deal-making and voting, state lawmakers settled on final versions of legislation Friday for most of the remaining issues of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Majestic CEO asks lawmakers to take a risk for Indiana's casinos

INDIANAPOLIS | The head of Gary's Majestic Star casinos told state lawmakers Monday it's past time for them to act on legislation giving Indiana's casino industry a fighting chance versus new, out-of-state competition.

Pence backing off fight for tax cut

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence received the optimistic state revenue forecast he's been counting on since January to show Indiana can afford his $500 million income tax cut, but instead of celebrating, Pence seemed more interested in compromising.

Speedway loan plan requires second lap to pass

INDIANAPOLIS | It took two tries, but the Indiana House approved legislation Monday providing $200 million in loans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and other Hoosier motorsports companies.

State doubles potential investment in motorsports industry

INDIANAPOLIS | Lawmakers have replaced a Senate-approved plan giving $100 million in state funds to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a $200 million loan program fueled by slot-machine revenue from central Indiana's casinos.

Gaming director says land-based casinos coming -- someday

Land-based gaming will come to Indiana, with declining overall casino revenues and other factors making such a shift more likely, Indiana Gaming Commission Executive Director Ernest Yelton said Monday.

House panel drops changes to gaming tax distributions

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana counties and communities at risk of losing a significant chunk of their gaming tax revenue can breathe a sigh of relief -- for now.

Governor frowns on gaming legislation

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence declared Tuesday that a Senate-approved plan intended to make Indiana's casinos more competitive includes an expansion of gambling he does not support.

Senate rolls the dice on casino tax cut

INDIANAPOLIS | The Senate on Monday bet millions of dollars belonging to Northwest Indiana counties and cities on the chance that reducing casino tax payments will lead to new casino property developments and improve competition with out-of-state gambling halls.

Senate votes to take gaming revenue from counties without casinos

INDIANAPOLIS | Counties without casinos would also lose some of their gaming tax revenue following a change made Thursday to legislation intended to help Indiana casinos make improvements to better compete with new casinos in neighboring states.

Region governments lose money under revised gaming proposal

INDIANAPOLIS | Casino tax revenue paid to Northwest Indiana communities would be cut under legislation amended and approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

Casinos see dramatic declines year-to-year in January

In what has been termed “new normal” by gaming officials and observers, all five Northwest Indiana casinos saw a combined 9.2 percent decline in January revenues compared with one year ago, according to revenue figures released Friday by the Indiana Gaming Commission.

Rogers rolls the dice for Gary land-based casino

INDIANAPOLIS | State Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, is betting she can make Gary economic development legislation more palatable by rolling her proposal for a land-based casino into another gaming measure moving through the Senate.

Senate leader sees tough road ahead for gaming changes

INDIANAPOLIS | The leader of the Indiana Senate threw cold water Thursday on the idea that the unanimous committee vote for a proposal changing taxes and other rules affecting the state's casino industry guarantees the full Senate will approve the legislation.

Senate panel OKs tax cut to help casinos fight out-of-state competition

INDIANAPOLIS | A Senate committee signaled Wednesday that it's ready to help Indiana's gaming industry fight encroaching competition from new casinos in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.