Indiana Legislation Would Allow Full House to Relocate Rising Star Casino to New Haven
Posted on: January 14, 2025, 08:41h.
Last updated on: January 30, 2025, 12:48h.
Legislation in Indiana has been introduced to allow Full House Resorts to shutter its Rising Star Casino and relocate its state-issued gaming license north to New Haven just outside of Fort Wayne, the second-most populated city in the Hoosier State.

Last week, Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) filed Senate Bill 293. The legislation seeks to permit Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts, which has held a gaming concession in Indiana since 2011, to relocate its casino privileges about 150 air miles north.
Companies possessing casino licenses from the Indiana Gaming Commission cannot move the license to a new market without approval from the General Assembly. Last summer, Full House informed state lawmakers of its wishes to build a new casino resort in a more favorable market.
SB 293 has been directed to the Senate Committee on Public Policy for initial consideration.
Sinking Boat
Full House acquired the Grand Victoria Casino & Resort in Rising Sun in 2011 for $43 million. The seller consisted of local businesspeople and Hyatt Hotels, which had opened the riverboat in October 1996.
Full House renamed the 40K-square-foot boat Rising Star. The gaming facility relied heavily on Cincinnati, about 25 miles northeast, to keep business afloat. The company’s bet on Rising Sun was a winning one for many years, but things took a turn south after Ohio voters authorized commercial casinos through a statewide ballot referendum in November 2009.
The 2009 vote approved a single casino in Ohio’s four largest cities, including Cincinnati. When Jack Cincinnati (today Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati) opened in March 2013, business began slowing at Rising Star.
Full House invested in its Indiana riverboat to fend off the new competition with a second hotel featuring 104 guestrooms at a cost of $8 million. In 2021, Rising Star partnered with WynnBet to operate in-person and mobile sports betting.
It wasn’t enough to lure Ohioans across the Ohio River to the small Indiana town to gamble. Over the following years, Jack’s convenient downtown location further depressed gaming revenue at Rising Star.
In the 2024 fiscal year, Rising Star Casino reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) of just $43.8 million. Before casinos opened in Ohio, Rising Star in the 2012 fiscal year won more than $92.6 million from players.
New Haven Plan
Full House has proposed investing $500 million to open a resort casino in New Haven. If the Indiana General Assembly approves the relocation, Full House will move forward with the project near the I-469 and US 30 interchange at Doyle Road.
The first phase of the development would include a 90K-square-foot casino with over 1,400 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook. There would be several restaurants and bars, including a farm-to-table restaurant featuring produce grown on-site in greenhouses surrounding the property. A glass-enclosed atrium would greet guests.
A second development phase would include a five-story, 200-room hotel with a full-service spa and salon. An event venue and additional dining and entertainment would also be forthcoming.
Full House estimates the first phase of its New Haven casino would generate more than $80 million annually in new state and local tax revenue.
Zay’s bill passing is certainly not set in stone. Several lawmakers representing the region, including Sens. Tyler Johnson (R-New Haven) and Rep. Dave Heine (R-New Haven), have already said they’ll vote against the casino relocation.
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Last Comments ( 2 )
Better yet, put a Fort Wayne area casino license up for auction to the highest bidder. Maybe a competitor could come up with a better plan than Rising Sun.
What happens to the old property?