- Indiana’s Senate has passed a bill that could bring the region’s first commercial casino to Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben County.
- The winning operator must invest at least $500 million into a full destination development including a gaming floor with craps tables.
- House Bill 1038 still needs House approval before Friday’s adjournment to become law.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties are all in the running to host northeast Indiana’s first-ever commercial casino after the Indiana Senate passed House Bill 1038 on Tuesday in a close 26-22 vote.
A brand-new 14th state casino license for the area is authorized by (the legislation. The winner would have to provide at least $500 million to the project, which would include funding for a hotel, dining options, entertainment centers, and a complete gaming floor with craps tables.
Access to legal craps without having to travel across state lines would be a big change for local gamblers. Residents of the northeastern part of Indiana are currently traveling to Michigan and Ohio to place their wagers.
The state is suffering greatly as a result of this outflow; estimates indicate that Indiana loses about $50 million in gaming income each year, of which about $35 million goes to Michigan’s finances and another $15 million travels southeast to Ohio.
What the Casino Would Look Like
Sen. Justin Busch, the bill sponsor, characterizes the proposal as a destination development rather than merely a stand-alone gambling floor. According to an independent analysis, the casino would bring in over $170 million in state tax income annually, generate $330 million in revenue, and create over 2,000 permanent jobs in addition to over 7,500 construction jobs.
Steuben County has already found a possible location close to the intersection of I-69 and Indiana Toll Road, which would put the casino right along a busy route that connects several states and put it in a prime location to attract tourists from outside the state.
Since the state currently permits the game under its present gaming regulations, any newly licensed casino that provides legal craps in Indiana would be allowed to run craps tables alongside sportsbooks and other table games straight away.
Time is currently running out in both chambers.
Following the House’s passage of its own version of the bill earlier this month, which differs significantly in how the casino license is handled and which counties are still eligible, lawmakers have until Friday’s adjournment to reconcile the two versions.
The procedure will be transferred to a conference committee, a bipartisan group that convenes people from both sides of the Capitol to resolve any outstanding concerns, if no agreement is reached by that date.