Indiana Working On Program To Keep Deadbeat Parents' Gambling Wins

Lawmakers in the state of Indiana were looking for a way to make life more difficult on the 165,000 deadbeat parents that owe more than $2,000 in child support. Legislators came up with the idea of keeping jackpot winnings from these parents.

In the last legislative session, lawmakers approved a law that will require casinos to check jackpot winners against a list of deadbeat parents. If it is determined that the winner is on the list, the jackpot will not be granted to the parent, but instead paid to the Department of Child Services.

The online program that will check the database is currently being developed by the state. The current plan is for the system to be completed and operational by 2011. Whether this is a logical timeline or not will depend on how fast the developers can link the casinos and the Department of Child Services.

One of the concerns about the program will be the amount of time it will take for casinos to conduct the check. Casino management has been concerned that if it takes a long time, gamblers will be turned off and go elsewhere to place their bets. The state has guaranteed it will not be a lengthy process.

Estimates also have indicated that a small percentage of deadbeat parents will actually be found. Mike Smith, the President of the Casino Association of Indiana, claims that out of every three to five hundred thousand checks, only 400 people that owe child support will be found.

Indiana joins a growing list of states that have implemented similar laws. Legislators have come to the conclusion that parents who owe back child support should not be in casinos gambling in the first place. Any winnings, the lawmakers concluded, should go to the children, and not into the pockets of the deadbeat parents.

July 5, 2010
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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