Published on: March 26, 2026, 11:46h.
Updated on: March 26, 2026, 11:46h.
- Indiana is accepting proposals for a new casino in the northeastern region of the state
- Potential sites for casinos include Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties
- A proposal for a casino in Fort Wayne is highly anticipated
The Indiana Gaming Commission is currently reviewing submissions for casino development in the northeastern section of the Hoosier State.
Earlier this month, Indiana Governor Mike Braun (R) enacted House Bill 1038, which permits commercial casinos in Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties, including options for slot machines, live table games, and sports betting.
Ultimately, local voters will determine the outcome through a referendum. If a majority approves, the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) will issue a license for the casino project.
House Bill 1038 introduces a 14th casino license. Should Full House Resorts claim the license, they may close their Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, Ohio County.
Current Bidding Process
The IGC has announced that companies interested in pursuing the Northeast Indiana casino opportunity must submit their proposals by December 1, 2026. The new law allows participation from any U.S. brick-and-mortar casino operator.
The selected proposal must be backed by county voters and pay a one-time state fee of $150 million, a figure that may deter some potential applicants, including Full House, which initially advocated for the passage of HB1038.
During Full House’s 2025 earnings report, CEO Daniel Lee expressed reservations about abandoning Rising Star for a new venture in Northeast Indiana.
The bill underwent numerous revisions. We remain profitable at Rising Sun—not massively, but we do. Our aim is to continue benefiting our shareholders and the state,” Lee stated.
Lee raised concerns about the likelihood of one of the three specified counties approving a casino referendum, suggesting that a Michigan gaming tribe might be financing an opposing campaign to sway voters in Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties.
“It’s clearly financially backed by someone. I suspect it could be an Indian tribe from Southern Michigan or similar entities that might view this as a threat,” Lee explained.
Market Potential in Fort Wayne
Any operator vying for the Northeast Indiana casino license will likely propose a location in or around Fort Wayne. According to Spectrum Gaming, Fort Wayne ranks as Indiana’s second-largest market that lacks adequate gaming facilities, trailing only Indianapolis.
The IGC collaborated with gaming consultants to pinpoint ideal sites for new casinos. Spectrum’s findings indicate that a Fort Wayne casino could achieve annual revenues exceeding $200 million.
In contrast, a casino located in Indianapolis could potentially generate nearly $500 million in gross gaming revenue, as per Spectrum’s analysis, but lawmakers chose to exclude Marion County from House Bill 1038.