A proposal that could alter Indiana’s casino footprint advanced in the Senate this week, even as lawmakers continue to debate whether the state should relocate an existing license or authorize a new one.
The Senate Public Policy Committee moved House Bill 1038 to the Senate Appropriations Committee without adopting amendments that were discussed during the hearing. As passed by the House earlier this month, the bill would authorize transferring the license for Indiana’s lowest-performing casino from Rising Sun, along the Ohio River.
During committee deliberations, Chair Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, presented possible revisions that would significantly alter the House plan. One option would create a new casino license rather than relocating the existing Rising Sun license.
Other proposed changes would limit eligible sites to Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties in northeastern Indiana by removing Wayne County from consideration. A further proposal would require counties seeking to host a casino to hold referendums to obtain voter approval.
Alting described the legislation as “a discussion in progress,” adding that Senate Republican leaders would weigh in on potential changes. For now, the bill remains in its House-approved form as it moves to the Appropriations Committee, which faces a Feb. 19 deadline to advance it to the full Senate.
The current Rising Sun casino generates about $42 million in annual gross revenue and paid $3.6 million in state gaming taxes last year. A state-commissioned study released in October projected that a casino in Allen County could produce $204 million in annual revenue and $61 million in state taxes.
That study ranked the Richmond area in Wayne County as the third most-promising location for a new casino, behind downtown Indianapolis and the Fort Wayne area. Speaking before the committee, Melissa Vance, president and CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, cited broad local support for pursuing a casino.
“We have pulled together … such a great coalition of people that are aligned,” she said, as reported by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “I am sure all of you know that that is not common, that everyone aligns and activates so quickly, and that just shows the passion and the interest.”
The casino operator selected by the Indiana Gaming Commission would be required to invest at least $500 million in the project and related amenities within five years of opening, as required by the bill.
Supporters from northeastern Indiana also testified in favor of a casino in that region. However, some Allen County residents expressed concerns about gambling addiction, crime, and potential declines in nearby property values.
The Rising Sun property, the Rising Star Casino owned by Full House Resorts, remains central to the debate. Local officials have raised concerns about compensation if the license is moved, given that the casino is the community’s largest employer and a key tax revenue source.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/02/13/117617-indiana-senate-advances-casino-relocation-bill-as-lawmakers-debate-license-structure-location-limits
