Indiana Senate Committee Advances Bill to Relocate Ohio County Casino License

The bill now heads to the Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers will examine the financial implications of the measure. If it secures approval there, it will proceed to a vote before the full Senate.

Conditional Support and Local Referendum Mechanism

While the committee vote marked progress for the initiative, several senators who supported the bill characterized their approval as tentative, signaling that their positions could shift as the legislative process unfolds.

House Bill 1038 would authorize the relocation of an existing casino gaming license currently held in Ohio County to a new host county further north. Allen, DeKalb, Steuben, and Wayne counties have been identified as potential destinations.

The legislation outlines key logistical elements of the transfer, including how the value of the casino license would be determined and the regulatory process governing the relocation. Importantly, it introduces a public approval component: amendments to the bill call for a ballot question to appear in this year’s general election in any county selected as a potential host site.

Under this framework, voters in the affected county would have the opportunity to approve or reject the proposed casino development. The bill also provides the state with discretion in structuring the public question process tied to the application.

Clear Timeline and Transitional Provisions

To enhance transparency and predictability, the measure establishes a defined application timeline. Casino applications would be made publicly available, with a submission deadline set for January 2027 and a final decision required by April 2027.

Should the relocation ultimately be approved, the current Ohio County casino operator would be permitted to continue gaming operations until one day prior to the official transfer of license ownership. This transitional provision is designed to ensure operational continuity while the new project is developed.

As the bill advances to the Appropriations Committee, attention will turn to projected tax revenues, local economic impact, and funding considerations. The date for the next hearing has not yet been announced, but the proposal represents a significant step in Indiana’s ongoing evaluation of strategic casino market positioning and regional economic development opportunities.