Sec. 1. (a) The commission may issue to a person a license to own a riverboat subject to the numerical and geographical limitation of owner's licenses under this section and IC 4-33-4-17. Not more than ten (10) owner's licenses may be in effect at any time. Subject to subsection (d), those owner's licenses may be issued as follows:

(1) Not more than two (2) licenses for not more than two (2) riverboats that operate in or from the city of Gary.

(2) One (1) license for a riverboat that operates from the city of Hammond.

(3) One (1) license for a riverboat that operates from the city of East Chicago.

(4) One (1) license for a city located in a county contiguous to Lake Michigan. However, this license may not be issued to a city described in subdivisions (1) through (3).

(5) A total of five (5) licenses for riverboats that operate upon the Ohio River from the following counties:

(A) Vanderburgh County.

(B) Harrison County.

(C) Switzerland County.

(D) Ohio County.

(E) Dearborn County.

The commission may not issue a license to an applicant if the issuance of the license would result in more than one (1) riverboat operating from a county described in this subdivision.

(6) Not more than one (1) license for a riverboat that operates as an inland casino in Vigo County under IC 4-33-6.7.

(b) In addition to its power to issue owner's licenses under subsection (a), the commission may also enter into a contract under IC 4-33-6.5 with respect to the operation of one (1) riverboat on behalf of the commission in a historic hotel district.

(c) A person holding an owner's license may not move the person's riverboat from the county in which the riverboat was docked on January 1, 2007, to any other county.

(d) The following apply to the allocation and issuance of owner's licenses under subsection (a):

(1) A licensed owner holding two licenses issued under subsection (a)(1) must relinquish one (1) of the licenses under section 4.5 of this chapter upon the commission's approval of the licensed owner's request to relocate gaming operations under section 4.5 of this chapter.

(2) An owner's license relinquished under subdivision (1) and section 4.5 of this chapter may not be reissued with respect to gaming operations in Gary.

(3) The licensed owner who relinquishes a license under subdivision (1) and section 4.5 of this chapter may operate two (2) docked riverboats under a single license unless and until the licensed owner begins gaming operations at a relocated inland casino under section 4.5 of this chapter.

(4) If an owner's license is relinquished under subdivision (1) and section 4.5 of this chapter, an owner's license may be issued to authorize gaming operations in Vigo County in accordance with subsection (a)(6) and the procedures set forth in IC 4-33-6.7.

As added by P.L.277-1993(ss), SEC.124. Amended by P.L.20-1995, SEC.8; P.L.55-1995, SEC.1; P.L.92-2003, SEC.27; P.L.149-2003, SEC.1; P.L.233-2007, SEC.14; P.L.137-2012, SEC.3; P.L.229-2013, SEC.14; P.L.293-2019, SEC.10.