Indiana’s first riverboat casino has become the first to move to land after a state law allowed such a move for Hoosier riverboat establishments.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Samantha Horton reports on today’s grand opening of the new land base for the Tropicana Evansville.

Patricia Eatman came to the Tropicana play and says she’s excited about the new venue.

“The riverboat t seemed smaller. I think there was three floors on there and this is just so spacious and you feel more comfortable and it’s really nice.”

Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch was in attendance and says she sees this as the future of gaming in Indiana.

“I think this is the beginning of an ongoing movement to take casinos from the riverboat to land based. And that is what will make us competitive with our neighboring states.”

The 75,000 square foot casino features over a thousand of slot machines along with poker and table games.

The casino was able to move land based after the 2015 Indiana Legislature passed a bill allowing the change in the state’s gaming industry.