Published on: December 8, 2025, 08:05h.
Updated on: December 8, 2025, 08:05h.
- Dealers at Horseshoe Indianapolis have unionized with the Teamsters
- This unionization conclusion follows a two-month strike at the Shelbyville casino
The strike at Horseshoe Casino Indianapolis in Shelbyville has officially ended after table game dealers and dual-rate supervisors voted to affiliate with the Teamsters.
After enduring a lengthy two-month strike initiated by Caesars Entertainment’s refusal to allow an independent auditor to oversee the union vote amidst the federal government shutdown, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) intervened to count the votes. A significant majority of authorization cards supported the International Brotherhood as their bargaining representative.
When the October government shutdown delayed their union certification vote, Horseshoe Casino dealers in Indianapolis remained resolute in their desire to join the Teamsters. Members organized a ‘recognition strike’ pledging to picket until the company acknowledged their union,” stated a Teamsters release.
The Horseshoe Indianapolis dealers and dual-rate employees are now part of Teamsters Local 135, a prominent local with over 12,000 members, representing not only casino workers but also those in the airline, construction, warehousing, and freight sectors.
Postponed Union Formation
Caesars Entertainment, the entity managing the Shelbyville casino, exploited the federal government shutdown to delay the dealer union vote. The Las Vegas-based company dismissed requests from Teamsters officials to engage an auditor for the election, a duty normally undertaken by the NLRB.
Due to the shutdown, deemed nonessential by the US government, several functions of the NLRB, including union election processes, were suspended for 43 days. The White House Council of Economic Advisors estimated that this shutdown resulted in a loss of more than $1.5 billion in Indiana’s Gross State Product, accounting for the statewide economic performance of goods and services.
As Caesars denied the inclusion of an auditor that would have allowed workers to submit their authorization cards, the dealers and dual-rate employees ceased working. Law enforcement and federal court intervention were necessary when Caesars claimed that the picketing area directly outside the casino’s parking area was private property. The demonstration was subsequently relocated to a public parking lot across N. Michigan Ave.
About 200 workers participated in the strike, with dual-rate employees managing cards on 65 table games while also performing floor supervisory duties during specific shifts.
Horseshoe Indianapolis is already partially represented by unions since Teamsters Local 135 also advocates for the slot attendants.
Union Objectives
In the 2025 fiscal year, Horseshoe Indianapolis reported a gross gaming revenue of $332.2 million, the second-highest among Indiana’s 13 casinos, surpassed only by Hard Rock Northern Indiana at $444.3 million.
The Horseshoe casino recorded revenues of $336.4 million in fiscal year 2024, $348.4 million in 2023, and $334.6 million in 2022.
Teamsters Local 135 intends to advocate for improved wages, fair tip pooling practices, and enhanced job security for its table game dealers and dual-rate personnel.