Indiana’s Wayne County Stakes $30K Bet on Casino Development
Posted on: January 6, 2026, 03:31h.
Last updated on: January 6, 2026, 03:31h.
- Economic leaders in Wayne County, IN, want to be considered for a casino
- Indiana lawmakers are reviewing two pieces of legislation related to casino locations
Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation that could authorize a 14th casino license or allow a current licensee to relocate to a more attractive market. Should a bill pass, officials in Wayne County are throwing the county’s name in the hat for consideration.
A recent study commissioned by the Indiana Gaming Commission concluded that Indianapolis and Fort Wayne present the greatest opportunity for new casinos. But the researchers at Spectrum Gaming, a prominent gaming consultancy based in Pennsylvania, said Wayne County is another area “where unmet potential is high.”
The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Wayne County, which works to improve the business and community environment within the county, says it will spend $30,000 on casino lobbyists to ensure that Wayne is considered during the gaming talks.
Western Wayne News reports that the EDC has tapped RJL Solutions, which worked with a group of local businesspeople over half a decade ago to bring a casino to Terre Haute. Churchill Downs’ Terre Haute Casino Resort opened in April 2024.
Wayne County Casino
Spectrum focused on Indianapolis and Fort Wayne in its report to the state. The agency concluded that a casino in the capital city could generate annual gross gaming revenue of nearly $500 million. A casino in Fort Wayne would have the potential to win over $200 million annually from gamblers, the Spectrum report detailed. Spectrum did not detail revenue projections for Wayne County.
Indiana lawmakers are reviewing two gaming bills. One would create a 14th casino license earmarked for Allen County, home to Fort Wayne, and initiate a competitive bid for the $50 million concession. A second bill would allow Full House Resorts to relocate from Rising Sun to Allen County.
The Wayne County EDC believes a casino would create hundreds of jobs and generate millions of dollars in new local tax revenue. The Economic Development Corporation is funded by the county’s Economic Development Income Tax, or 0.25% of adjusted gross personal income.
RJL Solutions will work with the EDC to identify state lawmakers willing to champion a bill to allow Wayne County to conduct a local ballot referendum to gauge support for a casino development. If a majority of voters were to approve a casino referendum, the license would be authorized.
Richmond, the county seat of Wayne, is about 80 air miles south of Fort Wayne, where Full House wants to invest.
Wayne County Demographics
Located in east-central Indiana along the Ohio border, Wayne County is home to about 66K people. The county was named after Gen. Anthony Wayne, an officer in the Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War.
The median household income in Wayne County, as of 2023, was only $53K, far below the state average of $69,500. At over 17%, Wayne has one of the highest poverty rates in Indiana.
The top employers in Wayne are currently Reid Health, Richmond Community Schools, Belden, and the State Hospital.
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