The Steuben County Commissioners are in favor of presenting voters with the option to approve a casino through a local ballot initiative in the upcoming November election. Additionally, Steuben will not be the sole county in Indiana posing this question to its residents.

This week, the Steuben County Board of Commissioners reaffirmed a resolution to present a ballot question to residents, gauging their stance on gaming. This marked the second time the board approved a casino referendum after navigating a legal dispute about whether the state law enacted earlier this year required local government action.

House Bill 1038, signed by Governor Mike Braun (R) of Indiana in March, permits Steuben, Allen, and DeKalb counties to solicit casino endorsements through local referendums. The law was initiated by Full House Resorts, which aimed to shift its Indiana gaming license from Rising Sun to a more lucrative market in the northeast region of the state.

Legal Considerations

HB1038 empowers the three counties to conduct referendums concerning casino establishments. Initially, the Steuben County Commissioners believed it was necessary to adopt an ordinance mandating their Board of Elections to facilitate the gaming referendum on Nov. 3.

However, the county clerk subsequently informed the commissioners that the ordinance passed in May was unnecessary, as it erroneously suggested that the county—not the state—was instigating the referendum. Following discussions with Steuben County Attorney Donald Stuckey, the board determined the May resolution was flawed.

Stuckey recommended that the board introduce a second resolution, making it clear that the action was in accordance with state law to ensure all bases were covered.

In November, Steuben County residents will be presented with the straightforward question:

“Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Steuben County?”

Steuben County’s referendum question for November

Steuben voters will not be alone in this gaming inquiry, as referendums are also set for Allen and DeKalb counties. Despite these counties showing less interest in casino gambling, HB1038 mandates similar ballot questions.

Residents in these counties will also see the questions: “Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Allen County?” and “Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in DeKalb County?” on their ballots.

Short Bidding Timeline

The HB1038 legislation introduces a notably brief bidding period for potential casino developers, with submissions due to the Indiana Gaming Commission by December 1, 2026.

The law allows “any operator of a brick-and-mortar casino located in the United States” to apply for a casino license in any of the three counties where gaming referendums receive majority approval.

Applicants must demonstrate project investments of at least $500 million, with at least 60% of that investment allocated within two years following the license award.