Published on: February 12, 2026, 10:35 AM.
Updated on: February 12, 2026, 10:35 AM.
- Support for casino legislation in Northeast Indiana is on the rise
- Full House Resorts aims to close its Rising Sun casino in favor of a move northeast
Recent developments in Indiana have seen the advancement of legislation allowing the transfer of the Rising Sun casino license to a more promising, untapped gaming market, following approval from a state Senate committee earlier this week.
Earlier this month, the Indiana House of Representatives approved House Bill 1038 with a vote of 67-30. Spearheaded by Rep. Chad Snow (R-Warsaw), this legislation would empower the Indiana Gaming Commission to issue a new casino license in Allen, DeKalb, Steuben, or Wayne counties.
Full House Resorts, headquartered in Indiana, is looking to shut down its Rising Star Casino Resort and replace it with a new establishment in northeastern Indiana, particularly targeting the Fort Wayne area. Initially, HB1038 referred to Full House Resorts as the only company permitted to apply for a casino license in these counties, but amendments during the House review opened the opportunity to all 13 licensed gaming companies in the state.
As it currently stands, HB1038 mandates that interested casinos holding Indiana gaming licenses must submit their proposals for a new casino by December 1, 2026. These proposals will be made public by January 15, 2027, with the Indiana Gaming Commission expected to choose a selected bidder by April 15, 2027.
Potential Amendments
Under HB1038, the winning bidder for the northeast Indiana casino license will be required to pay a one-time fee of $50 million to the state as well as a $30 million fee to Ohio County to compensate for the lost local tax revenue resulting from the closure of Rising Star. The bill also stipulates a minimum investment of $500 million within five years following the opening.
Should the Indiana Gaming Commission select a developer other than Full House Resorts, HB1038 additionally stipulates that the winning bidder must compensate Full House for “the fair market value of the Ohio County license,” to be determined by an independent appraiser.
This is where we currently stand with the legislation. Yet, there are numerous potential amendments under consideration, although the Senate Public Policy Committee did not vote on them during its assessment.
Among the proposed amendments is a return to exclusive rights for Full House regarding the casino opportunity in northeast Indiana. There is also a suggestion to remove Wayne County from the list of eligible host counties.
Additional proposed changes include keeping the Ohio County casino license active if Full House fails to finalize the relocation agreement, as well as requiring counties to conduct local referendums in the upcoming general election, only allowing those with majority support to host a new casino.
Opposition from Allen County
According to a study commissioned by the Indiana Gaming Commission, Fort Wayne has been identified as the second most promising untapped gaming market. Full House Resorts has shown interest in relocating to Indiana’s second largest city.
However, local officials are not supportive. Indiana Representatives Martin Carbaugh and Bob Morris, both Republicans from Allen County, voted against the bill in the House.
Kristen Bissontz of the Coalition for a Better Allen County, a group opposing casino expansion in Fort Wayne, emphasizes that no local lawmakers campaigned on the promise of bringing a casino to Allen County.