Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority officials cut the ribbon on a new terminal building at Smith Field Airport on Monday.The new terminal, at 902 W.INDIANAPOLIS – The House and Senate on Tuesday both approved a final version of a bill that will close a charity-run casino in Fort Wayne.
House Bill 1286 now goes to Gov. Mitch Daniels for his signature. If signed, the law would become effective July 1.
The legislation will put Parnell Poker Palace, 4608 Parnell Ave., out of business.
The casino is sponsored by White’s School of the Arts, a decades-old organization, and has been operating legally since December.
Current law allows fraternal, veterans, civic and charitable non-profits to similar casinos three times a week under an annual charity game night license. But the bill limits that license to fraternal and veterans groups.
The measure also clarifies regulations on winner-take-all drawings that taverns are allowed to offer and makes some small changes to Indiana lottery law.
The House vote on the bill was 85-7.
The only area representatives to vote against the bill were Rep. Phyllis Pond, R-New Haven, and Rep. Bill Ruppel, R-North Manchester.
The Senate vote on the bill was 45-1. All area senators voted in favor of the bill except Sen. Gary Dillon, R-Columbia City, who did not vote.
