Labor union says proposed sale of Indiana casinos violates state law

Noah Carson-Nelson, a representative of UNITE HERE Local 1, testified in opposition to the proposed transfer of two Indiana casinos from Pinnacle Entertainment to Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

Indiana law limits any one casino owner to a maximum of two licensed casinos. In its petition, UNITE HERE argues the proposed purchase would cause GLPI to exceed that ownership limit, since GLPI already owns the Hollywood Casino - Lawrenceburg and the acquisition of the two Pinnacle casinos would give GLPI ownership of three Indiana casinos.

UNITE HERE further argues that the Indiana Gaming Commission should refuse approval for these ownership changes because the proposed lease will saddle Pinnacle Entertainment with excessive fixed rent that could make it difficult for casino operators to adequately maintain the properties, provide quality wages and benefits to workers, and remain viable. Pinnacle anticipates paying approximately 60% of its EBITDAR to GLPI in rent.

GLPI was spun-off from Penn National Gaming in 2013, in part to avoid state and federal regulatory constraints limiting the ability of one company to own multiple casinos in a single jurisdiction.

Indiana was one of several states that licensed GLPI in 2013 as a “supplier,” even though, according to the Union’s petition, the company owns the casinos, does not meet the statutory definition of “supplier,” and exerts considerable influence over the casino managers through a master lease agreement that gives the REIT extraordinary powers, including veto power over management’s ability to expand on-site or develop new properties.

After the IGC meeting, the trade newsletter Indiana Gaming Insight concluded “at a minimum there is a big question of statutory interpretation — and perhaps also a major public policy decision at stake here as well that doesn’t make this as simple a transaction as the Hollywood GLPI spin-off.”

Earlier this month, attorneys on behalf of UNITE HERE Local 1 filed a formal complaint with the Indiana Gaming Commission objecting to the proposed transfer of Pinnacle Entertainment’s casinos to GLPI. In addition to petitioning for leave to intervene in the Indiana transfer proceedings, UNITE HERE is providing information to gaming regulators in other states where UNITE HERE believes the company has been misclassified as a supplier instead of an owner.

In Indiana, GLPI is attempting to acquire the Ameristar Casino & Hotel in East Chicago and the Belterra Casino Resort in Florence. GLPI would then lease back the properties to an operating company to be spun-off from Pinnacle Entertainment. Pinnacle has applied to the Indiana Gaming Commission for permission to transfer licenses between subsidiaries in connection with this transaction.

The Indiana Gaming Commission did not vote last Thursday on Pinnacle’s request. The next regularly scheduled meeting is in March 2016.