Indiana Casino Relocation Bill Progresses in Senate, But Host of Possible Amendments Remain
Posted on: February 12, 2026, 10:35h.
Last updated on: February 12, 2026, 10:35h.
- Legislation to allow a casino in Northeast Indiana continues to gather support
- Full House Resorts wants to shutter its Rising Sun casino in favor of the northeast
Legislation in Indiana to permit the relocation of the casino license in Rising Sun to a more attractive, untapped gaming market cleared a state Senate committee on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1038 with a 67-30 vote. The legislation, led by Rep. Chad Snow (R-Warsaw), would allow the Indiana Gaming Commission to issue a gaming license for a casino in Allen, DeKalb, Steuben, or Wayne counties.
Indiana-based Full House Resorts is seeking to shutter its Rising Star Casino Resort and build a new casino somewhere in northeastern Indiana, with the Fort Wayne region most desired. HB1038 initially named Full House Resorts as the exclusive company that would be able to bid on a casino in the aforementioned counties, but during the House’s consideration, the legislation was amended to allow any of the state’s 13 gaming licensees to explore the opportunity.
HB1038, as currently written, would require interested casinos holding Indiana gaming licenses to submit bids for a new casino by Dec. 1, 2026. The bids would need to be made public by Jan. 15, 2027, and the Indiana Gaming Commission would select a winner by April 15, 2027.
Possible Amendments
HB1038 would require the winning bidder of the northeast or eastern Indiana casino license to pay a one-time fee of $50 million to the state and another $30 million to Ohio County to offset its local tax revenue that will disappear with the closing of Rising Star. The bill mandates a minimum investment of $500 million within five years of opening.
If the Indiana Gaming Commission selects a casino developer not named Full House Resorts, HB1038 additionally requires that the winning bidder pay Full House “the fair market value of the Ohio County license.” The fair market value would be determined by an independent third party.
That’s where the current legislation stands. However, numerous possible amendments remain, though the Senate Public Policy Committee did not vote on them during its review.
HB1038 could be amended to return the northeast Indiana casino opportunity to Full House exclusively. There’s also a proposed amendment to strip Wayne County from the list of eligible host counties.
Other raised amendments include allowing the Ohio County casino license to remain active if Full House doesn’t secure the relocation concession. Another suggested amendment would require counties to conduct local referendums during this year’s general election. Only those fielding majority support could host a new casino.
Allen County Opposition
Fort Wayne was deemed the second-most attractive untapped gaming market by a study commissioned by the Indiana Gaming Commission. Full House has expressed interest in moving to the state’s second most populous city.
Local officials, however, aren’t on board. Indiana Reps. Martin Carbaugh and Bob Morris, both Republicans representing Allen County, were among the “no” votes in the House.
Kristen Bissontz of the Coalition for a Better Allen County, a group formed to oppose the expansion of casino gambling in Fort Wayne, says no state lawmaker representing the county campaigned on bringing a casino to Allen County.
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