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Read Full BioA group of Indiana lawmakers convened last week to discuss initiatives for 2026, and developing a resort-style casino in Fort Wayne, Allen County, was one of the top priorities.
Greater Fort Wayne Inc. hosted a sold-out meeting, which listed supporting “the authorization and development of a resort-style casino in Allen County” as one of its key policy positions for the upcoming year.
Rep. Kyle Miller advocated moving the struggling Rising Star Casino from its current location in Rising Sun, Ohio County, to Fort Wayne. He wants lawmakers to support the relocation ahead of any approval of a tribal casino in Allen County.
Among the 10 lawmakers in attendance at the meeting, at least four others supported Miller’s push for Fort Wayne to be the new location of the casino. Sen. Tyler Johnson, however, reiterated his opposition to a casino in his district, which includes much of eastern Allen and DeKalb counties, saying the move “ignores risks to families, schools and public safety.”
Relocating Rising Star Casino Could Boost Revenue
Full House Resorts, the company behind the Rising Star Casino, had wanted to relocate to New Haven, but that plan was stopped by loud local opposition. The company acquired the property in 2011 for around $43 million.
A relocation study published last month said that the venue is “low-performing.” The study also stated that relocating the casino to Fort Wayne could increase annual revenue from $41 million to $204 million.
A study by the Indiana Gaming Commission and Spectrum Gaming Group estimated that this would generate $61.1 million in tax revenue for the state.
Lawmakers must tread carefully in advocating for the relocation of casinos, however. Former Rep. Sean Eberhart was sentenced to over a year in prison over bribery allegations, which led to his lobbying for casino relocations.
No Plans for Tribal Casino
Miller said that lawmakers should prioritize a casino project that will contribute tax revenue to Indiana, unlike a tribal development. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma has recently acquired federally recognized land at 8222 Fritz Road in northwest Allen County, which some have suggested could be used for casino development.
The Spectrum study noted that if a tribal casino were to open at this location, the potential revenue of the Fort Wayne Rising Star casino would decline from $204 million to $43 million. This would result in tax revenue falling from the estimated $61.1 million to $6 million.
The Miami Tribe, however, denied any plans to develop a casino on the land. Logan York, the tribal historic preservation officer, commented, “The Property will not be used for gaming or any other commercial purpose or for housing. The goal is to preserve, protect, and enhance the Property as a diverse natural setting for our Cultural Resources Office and our membership.”
Gov. Mike Braun also stated that no conversations have taken place regarding the use of the land for a casino. He has suggested alternative locations for relocating the Rising Star Casino, including Indianapolis, Lake County, and Hamilton County. He also said, “But Fort Wayne should be an ideal spot to have one, if you want one.”
Online Casinos Also on Hold in Indiana
While lawmakers debate the best location to move the Rising Star Casino, efforts to legalize online casinos in Indiana stalled earlier this year.
House Bill 1432 proposed allowing Indiana’s casino operators to host digital gaming platforms; however, despite passing through the House Public Policy Committee, it failed to advance to the Ways & Means Committee.
In the meeting last week, policies were focused on the development of Allen County and did not include any efforts to renew calls for the expansion of online gambling.
