Fort Wayne Casino Bill Heads to Indiana Gov. Braun, Law Mandates People Have Final Say
Posted on: February 27, 2026, 03:34h.
Last updated on: February 27, 2026, 03:34h.
- Legislation in Indiana that seeks to create a 14th gaming license has passed the state legislature
- The casino could only be located in Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben counties
- Full House Resorts will likely bid on the opportunity, should county voters welcome gaming
Indiana House Bill 1038 has cleared the state General Assembly and is headed to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk.
If the governor signs or allows the legislation to become law, HB1038 would authorize a 14th casino in the Hoosier State. Only the counties of Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben would be allowed to host the Northeast Indiana gaming license.
The legislation would allow the Indiana Gaming Commission to initiate a competitive bidding period for the casino opportunity. Any company operating a licensed casino in the United States would be welcome to participate.
The winning bid would need to pay a one-time fee of $150 million and invest at least $500 million in the resort over five years. At least 60%, or $300 million, would need to be invested within two years of the license being awarded.
Of the upfront license money, $100 million would go to the Indiana General Fund. The remaining $50 million would be directed to a “shuttered riverboat fund” that would be dispersed to any county where a casino closes after the new casino opens.
Will Any Companies Join Full House?
Full House Resorts is behind the Indiana casino bill, which was led by Rep. Craig Snow (R-Warsaw). The Las Vegas-based regional gaming operator wants to sunset its Rising Sun property, Rising Star Casino Resort.
The company says the town in Ohio County in the southeastern part of the state is no longer an attractive gaming market, with Hard Rock now running a casino in Cincinnati and Kentucky legalizing slot-like historical horse racing machines. Rising Star’s recent gaming numbers in prove it’s not. Rising Star ranked last among Indiana’s 13 casinos in 2025 revenue.
Snow’s original HB1038 proposed an $80 million upfront fee. The license cost was greatly increased as it made its way through the General Assembly. That could perhaps be good for Full House, as the costly upfront toll could improve the company’s odds of being the sole bidder.
Full House previously expressed interest in New Haven, Allen County. In November 2024, the company unveiled what a new casino there might look like.
A suburb of Fort Wayne, Full House renderings at the time included a 90,000-square-foot casino with 1,400 slots and 50 table games, plus a sportsbook. An atrium entrance, two full dining restaurants, a food hall, and four lounges and bars were included in the initial design.
A second development phase showed plans for a 200-room hotel with a premium spa and salon. An event venue and additional dining and entertainment were also detailed. Strong local opposition led to Indiana lawmakers initiating a market feasibility study, which concluded that Fort Wayne would be a most attractive market for a new casino.
County Referendum
During the lawmaking process, HB1038 was amended to remove Wayne County from the list of eligible host locales. A local referendum was also tacked on.
The referendum grants the local county governments of Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben the right to decide if they wish to get their constituents’ opinion on a possible casino. If they do, each county needs to place on its 2026 general election ballot the following question:
Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in ______ County?”
If a majority of the vote comes back in support of slot machines, table games, and sports betting, the county would be able to move forward in its casino pursuit. Failed referendums remove the county from HB1038 and prevent the county from representing the casino question to voters.
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