Myths and Facts

Clearing up common misconceptions about a Casino Resort in Steuben County

Myth: We would be taking on a failing casino.

Fact : Ohio County leaders fought to keep the casino in Rising Sun, and relocation is no longer a part of passed HB 1038. Despite revenue declines due to nearby competition, The Rising Star Casino there has still been able to contribute over $6 million a year to Ohio County and local non-profits through Local Distribution Agreements. Further, in their 2024 Community Report, the City of Rising Sun notes that their share of riverboat casino revenues funds almost a third of the city’s annual budget. Additionally, the Casino Resort is the #1 Property Tax payer in Ohio County at $397,000 last year.

Reactions to the news that they’d be getting to keep their casino were overwhelmingly positive in the community, with the Mayor of Rising Sun saying, “This has been a very long, ongoing process with both City and County officials making multiple trips to the State Capitol building throughout this whole legislative session to protect our constituents.”

Myth : This expands gambling in Indiana.

Fact : A license is eliminated. Relocation of a license from The Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, IN was removed from House Bill 1038, instead, the bill converts one of two unused horse racing “racino” licenses to an inland casino license while eliminating the other license.

The newly converted license is specifically for a casino operation in Allen, Dekalb, or Steuben counties, while the Ohio County license also stays intact. The bill additionally states that if a licensed owner ceases gaming operations or goes out of business, the owner’s license is terminated.

Myth : This is all happening really fast without any community input.

Fact : Only the legislative process on gaming operation has occurred to date. Changes to the bill were day-to-day during the quickly moving session. This session began early and within weeks of the study release when local officials learned they would possibly be included.

Steuben County has worked to keep a seat at the table in this process so that the community would ultimately have the opportunity to decide if they would host a development of this nature. The Steuben County Commissioners have been dedicated to holding a public referendum on the November general election ballot throughout all of the discussion, and are working to bring factual and concrete information to constituents regarding a Casino Resort operation in the county in advance of the vote.

See the full timeline of the process on our timeline tab.

Myth: A referendum always raises taxes.

Fact : A referendum by definition is “a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision”. In this case it would be a yes/no question on allowing casino gaming in Steuben County. While other referendums are tied to increases in tax rates to fund schools or special government projects, this ballot question would NOT be asking for a tax increase. Local leaders won’t seek funds to subsidize a for-profit business.

The ballot question is required to read: “Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Steuben County?”

Further, the referendum is binding. If the voters of a county do not vote in favor of permitting inland casino gambling, a second public question may not be held in that county. The commission may not issue a license to allow an inland casino to operate unless the voters of the county have approved inland casino gambling in the county.

Myth: This will eventually raise my property taxes or cost me money.

Fact : A third party impact study is already in the works now that we know final details of the bill. A Casino Resort is a private project that would fall in line with how other private developments are brought into our community. We have no reason to believe there would not be the same positive financial impacts to infrastructure, emergency services, schools, and non-for-profits that are enjoyed by other casino communities. This is why their partnerships are so sought after.

Casinos provide net decreases to tax payer liabilities not only through wagering taxes and local distribution agreement (LDA) dollars, but they are also the largest property tax payer in most of their counties. Those suggesting that there would be an increase in taxes are propagating an unfounded belief.

The casino is mandated to pay portions of their profits directly back into the community and can actually off-set taxes paid by property owners. These funds are directed to the state, county, regional economic development, and in grants to local non-profits through Local Distribution Agreements. Other LDAs from Indiana casino revenue have given additional funding to agencies like police and fire departments, YMCAs and community centers, schools, libraries, community beautification and environmental projects, and more.

“Using data from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Census of Population and Housing, the estimated net benefit of casino gambling at year 2000 levels was approximately 2% of household value, or about $2,000-$3,000 per household for households living near a casino. Additionally, there are positive spillover effects to neighboring in-state regions and no significant costs to out-of-state border regions. A particularly important finding for policymakers is that the benefits associated with a casino depend inversely on population density. Casinos are more likely to create net benefits in areas where population density is low.” (Mike Wentz, The Journal of Gambling Business and Economics)

While this is a heavily regulated and heavily taxed industry, a Casino is still a private development project.

Myth: This will put a strain on our first responders and law enforcement.

Fact : Local distribution agreements often give additional funding to these entities helping to pay for more staffing and equipment that can benefit all citizens. Police, Fire, and EMS services generally benefit from having casino partners in the community.

Our discussions with leaders in other casino communities in Indiana have revealed no concerns about increases in calls, and only positive impacts on these departments. Casinos also fund their own security, policing visitors with extensive rules and tight regulations on behavior within the casino property.

Myth: We already have utility shortages and high bills and this will make it worse.

Fact : Construction of a project of this size would require the expansion of capacity to our area, which utility companies have been hesitant to provide without the demand. A new casino resort could help increase capacity and create more reliable service to neighboring businesses, manufacturing facilities, and the homes of our residents. Despite their lack of authority over the companies that are granted territories in our area, local officials have been consistently relaying service issues to utility providers. They are ultimately governed by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and state laws.

Myth: We don’t have enough workers here to staff a facility of this size

Fact : A JobsEQ analysis was processed by the Steuben County Economic Development CEO in early 2026 that evaluated the employment needs for a Casino Resort operation that would bring about 800 new jobs to the area.

It looked at around 120 job categories and the potential applicants within a 45-minute driving distance, a standard labor shed pool. Categories included various hotel, entertainment, and casino workers like dealers, maintenance, food service, housekeeping, and security. A generally “ample supply” of candidates was recognized across most all of the job types required.

Myth: Local leaders already know where they would put this.

Fact : The Casino operator with the winning bid on the license would submit proposed projects and locations based on their ability to purchase the land required. It would be up to the gaming commission to approve the project and site.

While we contend that accessibility to our intersecting interstates would be desirable, there are no exact proposed locations at this time.

Positioning near already developed interstate interchanges would also minimize environmental and traffic impacts, and help to protect our small-town charms.

Myth: We need other things in our community first – restaurants, youth activities in the winter, etc.

Fact : Casino Resorts regularly include other non-gaming amenities including restaurants, meeting and convention spaces, spas, entertainment venues, and family-friendly recreation spaces like indoor pools, bowling alleys, and golf courses.

Visitor traffic increases the likelihood that other for-profit businesses would see this as an ideal place to locate. Local officials cannot force companies to create new establishments here, however, visitors to the Casino Resort could help increase that demand.

See “drawing power” below.

Myth: People that come to the casino just stay in the casino and this will hurt independent local businesses.

Fact : The non-gaming amenities included in a Casino Resort project attract visitors for business meetings and events outside of the casino itself. Studies have shown: “Casinos are found to have a significantly positive influence on retail property values.

The effect is stronger within a 5-mile radius of the casinos, suggesting that casinos have a complementary, rather than substitution, effect on other businesses.

This provides some of the first micro-level empirical evidence to support the “drawing power” of casinos and the impact of consumer spending on surrounding businesses.” (Wiley and Walker, The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics)

Myth : Steuben County was not even identified as a good location in the state gaming commission’s study.

Fact : The study funded by the state gaming commission and performed by Spectrum Gaming Group in 2025 shows that the top two locations with the greatest potential are in the Downtown Indianapolis area and an area north of Fort Wayne. For modeling purposes, Spectrum chose easily identifiable points for each location, or what we call “proxy points.” It is critical to note that the identified proxy points are not suggested potential casino sites; they are proxies for development in the vicinity and are being used for Spectrum’s modeling purposes. Northeast Proxy Point: Located at I-69 and SR 8, it was chosen for ease of access from Fort Wayne, the proximity of the Indiana Toll Road, and the potential for perhaps attracting visitors from Michigan.

Steuben County is a northeast location that has both proximity to the Toll Road and Michigan.

In addition, an agreement between the state of Indiana and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians prohibits new, non-tribal commercial casinos in 16 Northern Indiana counties to protect the Four Winds South Bend casino’s market. Known as the “16-county radius” restriction, this deal includes Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Wabash, and Whitley counties specifically. This only leaves Northern Allen County, Dekalb, and Steuben counties as Northeast options based on the study and current restrictions.

Myth : Once a project and license are awarded to an applicant, the county in which the project is located has to pay $500 Million in start-up costs.

Fact : The casino operator/developer is the ‘applicant’, not the county. The cost of the license is now $150 million. The investment in a casino resort would be a minimum of $500 million. These are all dollars that would be paid by the casino developer, NOT by the county.

This investment minimum is in good-faith to the community and ensures that a new tasteful, modern facility will be built to house the casino versus placement in an existing storefront or the most inexpensive building possible.

The investment would also include infrastructure upgrades and on-site non-gaming facilities such as a hotel, meeting rooms, restaurants, and entertainment and recreation amenities.