The Senate Public Policy Committee voted 8-0 Tuesday, Dec. 9 to allow the casino located in Ohio County to relocate to Allen County or Fort Wayne. Photo from Unsplash.

By Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — The Senate Public Policy Committee voted 8-0 Tuesday, Dec. 9 to allow the casino located in Ohio County to relocate to Allen County or Fort Wayne.

Senate Bill 70, authored by Sen. Justin Busch, R-Fort Wayne, will be considered again by the Indiana Senate when it returns in January.

There are a handful of casino bills filed this year that would give northeast Indiana a casino. One heard last week in the House would have created a new license, but no vote was taken.

Busch’s bill would allow the Rising Star Casino in southeastern Indiana – owned and operated by Full House Resorts – to move to Fort Wayne or Allen County. That casino has seen revenues plummet since casinos opened in Ohio and gambling expanded in Kentucky.

Full House supported a bill last year to move its license to New Haven but the legislation died. This year Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker is pushing for a casino in Fort Wayne, and has an agreement with the Allen County Commissioners on how to spend development dollars that would come with a gambling location.

A study released by the Indiana Gaming Commission in October found that Indianapolis was the top location for a casino relocation, followed by northeast Indiana.

While the Indianapolis region would bring the state more tax revenue, it would also hurt the two casinos nearby in Shelbyville and Anderson that help support the horse racing industry. Northeast Indiana was seen as more of an open market, impacting casinos in Ohio and Michigan.

Senate Bill 70 would require a relocation fee of $25 million be paid to the state. To move, Full House must plan an investment of at least $500 million for a casino and non-gaming amenities in the city or county.

There are also provisions in the bill to mitigate the loss to Ohio County. But the legislation does not include a requirement that local voters approve gambling.