Anonymous Group Forms to Oppose Fort Wayne Casino
Posted on: December 31, 2025, 12:50h.
Last updated on: December 30, 2025, 03:53h.
- A group opposing a casino in Fort Wayne has formed
- State lawmakers are considering allowing a casino in Indiana’s second-largest city
A grassroots coalition of neighbors, business owners, and faith leaders opposed to efforts in the Indiana legislature to designate Fort Wayne for a casino is ramping up its campaign.
“Save Fort Wayne” recently launched a website claiming that a casino would negatively affect Indiana’s second-largest city.
The campaign suggests that a casino wouldn’t bring thousands of high-paying jobs as promised by casino interest groups, but “low-wage and temporary” positions. Instead of becoming a tourism magnet for the region, Save Fort Wayne claims a casino would generate a “local wealth extraction.”
And instead of many millions of local tax dollars, monies that casino lobbyists often say can be used to help improve infrastructure, Save Fort Wayne argues a casino would result in an “infrastructure burden.”
The proposed casino expansion creates a net loss for our city, introducing risks of addiction and increased crime. Save Fort Wayne has formed a coalition of the willing that bridges political and demographic divides,” the campaign website reads.
The website includes an interactive slot machine where the spin always lands on an alleged negative consequence. Slot spin outcomes include “addiction,” “bankruptcies,” “divorces,” “mental health issues,” “fatal accidents,” “child neglect,” “human trafficking,” and “poverty.”
Anonymous Opposition
Save Fort Wayne is described as a “volunteer effort by concerned residents of Allen County.” Casino.org did not find any political action committee registered with that name on the Indiana Secretary of State website.
21Alive News requested an interview with Save Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne-based news outlet reported that the group denied the request, citing its wishes to remain anonymous.
Given the political nature of this project and our obligations to current employers, we have chosen to remain anonymous to protect our professional careers,” the group responded.
Full House Resorts is lobbying state lawmakers for the right to relocate its Rising Sun Casino to a more attractive market. Southeast Indiana is no longer as competitive as it once was, following the legalization of a casino in Cincinnati and the authorization of slot-like historical horse racing (HHR) machines in Kentucky.
Senate Bill 70, filed Dec. 8 by Sen. Justin Busch (R-Whitley, Allen), would permit Full House Resorts to move to Fort Wayne or anywhere else in Allen County. SB70 would also stipulate that Full House would need to pay the state $50 million should it sell or transfer ownership of the license within the subsequent 10 years.
House Bill 1038, introduced on Dec. 1, the first day of the Indiana General Assembly’s 2026 session that runs through February, would authorize a casino in Allen County with an upfront licensing cost of $50 million. Full House would need to bid against any other company interested in the gaming opportunity.
Efforts to bring a casino to Fort Wayne are supported by Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker (D).
Consultant Recommendations
Indiana lawmakers pumped the brakes earlier this year on Fort Wayne casino bills in favor of commissioning a study to determine the state’s biggest untapped gaming markets. The Indiana Gaming Commission tapped Pennsylvania-based Spectrum Gaming to handle the review.
Spectrum concluded that aside from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne presents the greatest revenue opportunity for a casino. The consultancy reported that a casino in Allen County would generate annual gaming win of more than $200 million.
A Fort Wayne casino would increase the state’s annual tax receipts by an estimated $38.3 million, after an expected $4.3 million reduction in gaming taxes from the state’s two racinos in Anderson and Shelbyville.
No comments yet