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Casino relocation timeline

2024

Rising Star Casino, owned and operated by Full House Resorts, works directly with the city of New Haven to move their casino license to an area with less competition and increased income potential.

2025

While in legislative committee discussions, lawmakers fail to agree to the terms of the move as outlined in an Indiana Senate bill allowing a casino license relocation. The bill dies. The Indiana State Gaming Commission still seeks to examine gaming revenue and commissions a study by Spectrum Gaming to explore other casino options in the state.

October 2025

The Spectrum Study is released and names an area in Northeast Indiana, north of Fort Wayne, as an untapped market for gaming. While the date of finalization on the Spectrum Study is published as Sept. 30. 2025, the Indiana Gaming Commission did not release the report on casino relocation options until Oct. 29, 2025 in compliance with a Nov. 1 deadline established by Senate Enrolled Act 43. Local legislators and Steuben County Commissioners had no advance information on the study or the potential for our county until the release by the IGC.

December 2025

The legislative session begins early, and bills on casino gaming and licenses are introduced.

January 2026

HB 1038 allowing the move of the Rising Star license to one of 4 counties- Allen, Dekalb, Steuben, or Wayne- passes out of committees and goes to the full House.

February 2, 2026

HB 1038 passes in a House vote 67-30.

Week of February 9, 2026

Bill moves to the Senate for committee discussion and a vote, passes 26-22.

Weeks of February 16 and 23, 2026

Further committee changes reinstate and require a ballot question for voters. Wayne County is dropped. Relocation of the Ohio County license is removed, instead a horse racing license is converted to an inland casino license.

February 27, 2026

Final version of HB 1038 passes in both the House and Senate.

Spring and Summer 2026

Casino operators and communities research potential projects, local impacts, and potential revenues.

Summer and Fall 2026

Public information sessions and Q&A with local officials- TBA

Fall 2026

The county election board shall place the following public question on the 2026 general election ballot:  “Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Steuben County?”

November 3, 2026

Election Day. The referendum is binding, over-riding any other resolutions by a city or county. 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 gaming 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.

December 1, 2026

Deadline for the state to accept applications, bids, and project proposals located in counties that have passed a referendum. Applications to include: conceptual plans for casino and non-gaming facilities, proposed site and site controls, market feasibility information, phased investment and construction timelines, and a passed resolution by the County Commissioners.

January 15, 2027

Deadline for filed applications and informational summaries to be released by the Gaming Commission to the public. Supplemental bids may be submitted by applicants after this release.

April 15, 2027

Deadline for the Indiana Gaming Commission to select the new casino operator and project.  Any supplemental bids must also be made public.

2027 & 2028

Primary Casino construction. At least 60% of the required $500 million minimum investment of development must be completed within two years from the date the license is awarded. Any remaining amount of the casino and non-gaming amenities should be completed no later than five years after gaming operations begin.