Indiana’s Wayne County Rolls the Dice on Casino Pursuit
Posted on: January 14, 2026, 12:39h.
Last updated on: January 14, 2026, 12:54h.
- Richmond Is on a Roll seeks to authorize a casino in Indiana’s Wayne County
- Indiana lawmakers are considering several gaming bills this year
- No bill has yet been filed to allow a casino in Wayne County
The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Wayne County have unveiled their campaign to bring a casino to east central Indiana.
With the Indiana General Assembly’s 2026 session underway, Wayne County is making its case for a casino development. Local business leaders believe a casino in Richmond, the county seat, would benefit the region and the state.
Richmond Is on a Roll is the chamber and EDC’s education initiative designed to help residents better understand the economic development opportunity a casino resort poses.
The goal is to provide clear explanations of what a casino proposal would mean for Wayne County, how the decision-making process works, and what steps are required before anything would move forward. This initiative is focused on education and is intended to support a transparent, informed community conversation. Residents deserve reliable information, clear timelines, and a straightforward view of what is known, what is still being evaluated, and what decisions remain ahead,” the campaign website reads.
The Richmond Is on a Roll campaign was developed by RJL Solutions, an Indiana-based consulting firm that helped bring a casino resort to Terre Haute.
2026 Indiana Casino Legislation
Indiana lawmakers are reviewing legislation that would allow a casino to be established in Allen County, specifically in Fort Wayne, after a study last year concluded that a casino there would be financially viable for the state and the gaming operator. The 2025 report from Spectrum Gaming found that desirable, untapped gaming markets “where unmet potential is high” include Indianapolis, Allen County, and Wayne County.
One bill would allow Full House Resorts to relocate its Rising Sun casino license to Allen County. A second bill would authorize a 14th casino license in Indiana, with the license earmarked for Allen County. That bill would initiate a competitive bid for the license, which would cost $50 million. A third bill would allow a casino in Indianapolis with a minimum investment of $750 million.
Wayne County is presumably a long shot for a casino, but that isn’t stopping economic development leaders from throwing their name in the hat for consideration.
A casino in Richmond would support community-focused economic development in Wayne County by creating new jobs, increasing local revenue, and maximizing tourism revenue at nearby businesses,” Richmond Is on a Roll says.
Richmond Is on a Roll suggests that casino-related jobs in Indiana pay higher annual wages than the national average at approximately $41K-$43K.
No Bill Introduced
Indiana’s 2026 legislative session began on December 1. Being an even-numbered year, the current session is the short term, with adjournment scheduled for February 27.
To date, no bill has been filed to designate Wayne County for a casino license.
No comments yet