for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Indiana may soon decide whether the Rising Sun riverboat casino license stays on the Ohio River or gets moved inland to chase a bigger, less crowded market.
A revised version of House Bill 1038 (HB 1038) cleared the House Public Policy Committee this week, expanding the list of possible new casino counties beyond Allen County to include DeKalb and Steuben in northeast Indiana and Wayne County in the east. The idea, supporters say, is to shift an existing license rather than add a brand-new one.
A license move, not a new license
Backers of the bill are calling it a relocation plan that keeps Indiana’s overall casino count flat. Rep. Ethan Manning, the committee chair, said the added counties reflect places that have “raised their hands” and shown local alignment, while still keeping Allen County in the driver’s seat as the most likely landing spot for a major development.
Under the amended proposal, any of Indiana’s 13 state-regulated casino operators could submit a bid for the Rising Sun license. That matters because Rising Star Casino, owned by Full House Resorts, has struggled in recent years, and lawmakers are hearing arguments that the current location is getting squeezed by competition across state lines.
Big money requirements and a payout to Rising Sun
The bill doesn’t just hand out a relocation. It ties the winning bid to a major capital commitment: at least $500 million spent on a casino and on-site non-gaming amenities within five years of the new property opening.
The winning operator would pay a $50 million fee to the state over five years, plus $30 million to the City of Rising Sun and Ohio County as compensation tied to the loss of casino tax revenue.
Local leaders want a say, but voters don’t get a referendum
One notable piece: the bill requires local sign-off from leadership, but it does not require a public referendum.
Manning and other lawmakers have described the proposal as needing support from local officials like mayors and county commissioners, but the measure doesn’t include the kind of voter approval step that has been part of earlier casino debates in Indiana.
The fight over where the “best” market is
Even with the county list expanded, the argument over geography isn’t going away.
A gaming study referenced during the debate found Indianapolis would generate the most tax revenue, with northeast Indiana next. But it also warned that an Indianapolis-area casino would likely hurt the nearby racino properties in Shelbyville and Anderson, which are tied into the state’s horse racing ecosystem. That’s one reason the bill keeps the focus on Allen, DeKalb, Steuben, and Wayne, not Marion County.
Still, some lawmakers aren’t thrilled with steering away from the top-revenue option. Rep. Blake Johnson said it’s “very difficult” to reconcile, given studies showing Indianapolis would be the most productive location.
Rising Sun worries about the aftermath
Rising Sun officials are pushing back hard on the compensation math and what happens to the existing site if the license leaves.
City Attorney Andrew Baudendistel told lawmakers the $30 million figure doesn’t replace the roughly $5 million a year the city and county have averaged recently, and he warned about the risk of a deteriorating riverfront property if the riverboat shuts down without a clear redevelopment plan.
After the House Public Policy Committee approved the bill 9–1
Next up is the House Ways and Means Committee, which has to clear it under the session’s deadline calendar before it can reach a full House vote.
House Speaker Todd Huston signaled he’s more comfortable with a bricks-and-mortar relocation than expanding phone-based gambling, calling the casino move “hundreds of millions of dollars” in economic impact.
Source: Indiana Public Media
