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Monday, August 01, 2011
Ind. Gov't. - "Gamblers lose jackpots to pay child support debts"
Nice to see reporter Lesley Weidenbener back, now writing for The Franklin Online. Her long story today begins:
INDIANAPOLIS — Casinos have blocked jackpot payouts to hundreds of Indiana gamblers behind on their child support payments in the past year, freeing up money for 550 children.Since October – when the first casino implemented the legislatively-mandated intercept program – gambling operators have withheld roughly $650,000 from 376 men and women, some of them more than once.
Sixteen gamblers have actually paid off their child support debts with their forfeited jackpots, said Cynthia Longest, deputy director at the Indiana Department of Child Services.
“This is one of the coolest things we’ve ever done,” said Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, who sponsored the legislation in the Indiana House. “I think many of these folks are going to be happy to get this burden off their backs. It was a phenomenal thing to do.”
Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 1, 2011 02:18 PM
Posted to Indiana Government