Indiana Senate Advances Northeast Casino Bill, Removing Referendum Requirement

An amended bill to authorize a new casino in northeast Indiana has advanced out of the Indiana Senate Committee on Appropriations, following roughly 25 minutes of debate. The measure now heads to the full Indiana Senate after passing on an 8–5 vote.

The revised legislation removes Wayne County from consideration and instead targets Allen, DeKalb or Steuben counties as potential host locations. The bill effectively creates a new casino license by converting one of the state’s remaining horse racing racino licenses from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission to the Indiana Gaming Commission. A second racino license would be eliminated. Indiana originally had five such licenses available.

Referendum Requirement Dropped

One of the most debated changes was the removal of a provision requiring a local referendum. Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) criticized the amendment, arguing that the decision would rest with a county’s board of commissioners rather than voters.

According to Brown, in counties such as Allen—where the casino proposal has sparked division—a majority of a three-member board could approve the project without direct public input. Historically, other Indiana casino proposals have been subject to voter approval in host counties.

Although the bill still lists DeKalb and Steuben as eligible sites, Brown suggested that any operator would likely favor Allen County and Fort Wayne due to the larger population base and stronger local market potential. “It’s kind of mostly about Allen County,” she said.

Competitive Positioning and Location Debate

Under the proposal, the final location would ultimately be determined by the winning bidder for the license, which would be awarded through a competitive process. The selected operator could choose among Allen, DeKalb or Steuben counties.

While Allen County remains divided, DeKalb officials have reportedly shown little interest. Steuben County leaders, however, have signaled openness to the project and indicated the casino question would still be submitted to voters locally.

Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka), chair of the Appropriations Committee, said northeast Indiana was chosen strategically because no existing in-state casinos or racetracks would face direct competition. “We felt the only competition was across the line, in Michigan,” Mishler explained.

Steuben County officials argue the area offers strong logistical advantages, citing the intersection of Interstate 69 and the Indiana Toll Road as a prime development zone.

Broader Legislative Context

Some lawmakers voiced concern that Wayne County was removed despite strong local support for development. Meanwhile, Sen. Aaron Freeman (R-Indianapolis) expressed disappointment that Marion County was not included, despite studies indicating it could generate the highest revenue from a relocated casino license.

Earlier versions of the legislation proposed relocating the license of Rising Star Casino in Ohio County due to underperformance. The amended bill leaves that license in place but includes language stating that if any Indiana casino ceases operations, its license would be revoked rather than reassigned.

As the bill advances to the full Senate, debate is expected to continue over local control, market viability and the long-term structure of Indiana’s gaming landscape.