iGaming Strategy in Indiana: Dec. 1, 2022 Member Summit Summary
iDEA General Counsel Jeff Ifrah kicked off the Dec. 1, 2022, Member Summit on iGaming Strategy in Indiana by providing an overview of why iDEA decided to focus its advocacy efforts on Indiana iGaming in the coming months. Indiana is likely to follow the trend of states that first allow sport betting before passing iGaming legislation.
Given Indiana’s previous nearly successful legislative efforts to pass legal iGaming, the state appears ripe for the next step. But passing iGaming legislation is hard, Jeff noted, citing obstacles like legality and constitutional issues and voter referendums. Given the amount of time and work iDEA has already invested in Indiana, though, there is an opportunity to get legalized iGaming “over the finish line in a tight time frame.”
iDEA Executive Director Amy Knapp introduced the team that is working on the effort. They include:
- Jeremiah Mankopf, CEO and president of MGS Consultants, who is leading the effort
- Taft, a law firm considered a powerhouse in advocacy in Indiana
- Bose Public Affairs Group
- Chris Russell, co-founder of the strategic communications firm Checkmate Strategies
- Chris Nybo, owner of the government relations-focused law firm Chris Nybo LLC
- iDEA’s Legislative Committee
- iDEA’s Marketing and Public Relations teams, headed by Amy
Jeremiah provided a timeline, noting that Indiana’s legislative session begins Jan. 9 and that he plans to be a very present figure at the Statehouse in January. He will hold a stakeholder leadership work group with the speaker of the house and speaker pro tempore once the session begins. Rep. Ethan Manning, who is the next possible chair of the House Policy Committee, will re-introduce the legislation. It appears the legislation will have the votes it needs in that crucial Committee, but it may be a couple votes short on the floor. Strategic and focused polling in districts whose legislators are not in the green column will begin soon as part of an effort to show or remind lawmakers what their constituents want when it comes to online gaming.
Chris Russell, who helped the successful efforts to legalize iGaming in Michigan and Pennsylvania, will use a variety of messaging tactics to communicate about the benefits of iGaming, including advertising, direct mail and digital marketing and targeted media appearances.
iDEA members interested in joining the Legislative Committee or otherwise contributing to these efforts should contact Amy or Jeff.
A recording of this meeting is available here.