Indiana voters reject casinos in all three counties
Lawmakers opened the bidding to any US operator, cooling Full House’s interest.
The hit
No casino is coming to north-east Indiana after voters in Allen, DeKalb & Steuben counties rejected referendums to allow slots, table games & sports betting, according to Casino.org. The vote followed House Bill 1038, signed by Governor Mike Braun in March.
Why it matters
Full House Resorts had pushed lawmakers to let it relocate its Rising Star Casino licence to north-east Indiana. Lawmakers attached a $150m fee & $500m minimum investment, all but annulling Full House’s interest. No major casino developer backed the referendums, & opposition efforts, including the campaign Save Fort Wayne, ran ads claiming a casino would bring addiction, bankruptcy & other harms.
The record
| Allen County vote | About 60% rejected the casino referendum |
|---|---|
| DeKalb County vote | About 65% rejected the casino referendum |
| Steuben County vote | Almost 60% rejected the casino referendum |
| Projected annual local tax revenue, Fort Wayne casino | $28.1m (Indiana Gaming Commission study by CBRE) |
| Projected local government revenue from food, hotel & property taxes | $13.1m a year (CBRE) |
| Indiana casino market, slots & table games, through September | $1.84bn in gross gaming revenue |
What happens next
Full House Resorts continues operating Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun. Watch whether lawmakers revisit north-east Indiana casino licensing after this rejection.
Sources: Indiana Casino Referendums Soundly Rejected in Three Counties
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