Published on: March 4, 2026, 07:39h.
Updated on: March 4, 2026, 07:39h.
- Governor of Indiana, Mike Braun, has enacted a new casino bill
- The legislation allows Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties to consider casino establishments
- Only one of these counties may open a casino
The new casino legislation for Northeast Indiana has been authorized by Governor Mike Braun (R). This law empowers voters in Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben to decide on permitting a casino in their regions.
House Enrolled Act 1038 makes provisions for a casino in one of the selected counties. Before the Indiana Gaming Commission can move forward with issuing a gaming license for Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben, local voters must affirm through a ballot that states:
“Should inland casino gaming be authorized in _____ County?”
If a majority reject the casino ballot, no further voting on the issue can occur in that county. Conversely, if the vote supports the gaming question, local authorities can solicit proposals from developers and choose one to present to the Indiana Gaming Commission.
Governor Braun indicated that this local referendum was essential for his approval.
Details of the Indiana Casino Legislation
Full House Resorts led advocacy efforts to secure legislative support for a casino in Northeast Indiana. The company has expressed disinterest in continuing operations at its Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, favoring a move to the northeastern part of the state for better business prospects.
An analysis commissioned by the Indiana Gaming Commission indicated that the Fort Wayne area, apart from downtown Indianapolis, represents the most underserved gaming market in Indiana. Initially set for the casino license holder in Ohio County, the law was revised to allow “any operator of a brick-and-mortar casino in the United States” to apply for the Northeast Indiana gaming license.
The entity that secures the new gaming license will be required to pay a one-time fee of $150 million, raised from the previous $80 million stipulated during the bill’s evaluation.
Should Full House be the license holder, it must cease operations at the Rising Star facility, with $50 million of the licensing fee designated for the “shuttered riverboat fund” to assist Ohio County.
The new license also mandates a minimum investment of $500 million, with at least 60% required to be allocated within the first two years upon license approval.
Community Opposition
An opposition coalition has emerged in Fort Wayne’s Allen County, aiming to persuade voters to reject the casino initiative in Indiana’s second most populated city.
“Save Fort Wayne,” supported by a group of unidentified local businesspeople and “concerned residents,” has conducted an economic impact review that yielded unfavorable results regarding the casino’s introduction.
The introduction of a commercial casino in Fort Wayne could signify a profound and possibly irreversible change to the economic and social landscape of Northeast Indiana,” the report, titled the Economic Realities, Legal Barriers, and Socioeconomic Implications of Allen County Casino, asserts.
While no organized resistance exists in DeKalb or Steuben counties, numerous residents have voiced their opposition to gambling, raising concerns regarding crime, traffic, and societal impact.