A proposal to shift one of Indiana’s struggling casino licenses to a new location has hit a legislative roadblock, but a new measure aims to keep the discussion alive by commissioning a statewide study on gaming site selection.
State Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington, who had previously championed legislation allowing Full House Resorts to transfer its gaming license from Rising Sun to Allen County, has introduced a bill calling for an independent analysis of the best potential sites for a new casino in Indiana.
The move comes after the original proposal failed to advance in the Senate Public Policy Committee, where Chairman Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, declined to bring it to a vote, effectively ending its chances this session.
The latest proposal, Senate Bill 43, directs the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) to work with an independent consultant to identify three optimal locations for a casino license within the state. Zay explained the need for a strategic, data-driven approach to gaming license distribution.
“It is beyond time that the state strategically looks into the performance and location of our gaming licenses in Indiana,” Zay said in a statement. “I trust this independent study will help myself and my legislative colleagues work towards an amicable and sustainable solution for our state gaming licenses.”
The bill follows a common legislative practice of using studies to build momentum for policy changes that lack immediate support. Zay, who previously indicated he was not prepared to push further for the direct relocation of the Full House Resorts license, believes the broader discussion of casino placement will continue in future sessions.
“It’s still an underperforming license in an oversaturated market. I took up the mantle, but I think this is likely a conversation that will reappear before the legislature every year until a decision is made,” he said.
Full House Resorts had sought to move its operations to New Haven, arguing that the Fort Wayne area, the largest metropolitan region in the state without a casino, presented a strong market opportunity.
The company maintained that a casino in New Haven, situated at least 90 minutes from the nearest competing facility, would generate revenue primarily from Michigan and Ohio rather than drawing customers away from Indiana’s existing gaming establishments.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/02/07/94422-indiana-legislator-pushes-for-casino-site-study-after-failed-license-relocation-proposal
