INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) – A legislative study committee is weighing requests from Indiana casino operators to reduce the state's progressive wagering tax rate and eliminating the $3 admission tax for everyone who enters a riverboat, even if not gambling.

The (Munster) Times reports (bit.ly/1yx9giS) most casino representatives requested the tax cuts during a hearing before the Legislature's gaming study committee last week.

Casino officials say the tax cuts are needed to help Indiana's casinos compete with those in other states.

Wagering and admission taxes brought in nearly $700 million for the state and local governments during the budget year that ended June 30. Before the Great Recession, those revenues regularly topped $900 million a year.

Committee chairman Republican Rep. Tom Dermody of LaPorte says the panel will consider the requests at their next meeting.