Gary, Indiana’s mayor is betting that a land-base casino can turn the city’s fortunes around.

Rudy Clay isn’t leaving it to chance that Indiana lawmakers will allow a land-based casino to open off a busy expressway.

Clay’s been traveling to Indianapolis to lobby state lawmakers who are considering allowing a casino off I-80/94.

The mayor expects to be back tomorrow when the Senate Finance Committee votes on the matter. Clay says his city’s two floating casinos on Lake Michigan are not in a good spot.

CLAY: The location of the Gary boats now are drowning in red ink and will continue to drown out there. You’re talking about I-80/94 where you have approximately 500,000 or 600,000 cars passing there a day. The state would get more and revenues. The city of Gary would get revenue. And then bottom line would be jobs, jobs, jobs for people.

If the committee approves the measure, it still needs approval by the full Senate and the House.