Three Indiana counties put a casino referendum on the November 3 ballot. If any wins, the Indiana Gaming Commission has until April 2027 to hand out one inland casino licence.
Indiana casino referendum results are due from Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties on November 3. A single inland casino licence is available across the three counties under House Enrolled Act 1038. Winning counties can name the site; the Indiana Gaming Commission must choose one operator by April 15, 2027.
- What the Indiana Casino Referendum Decides
- One Licence, $500M Minimum Commitment
- Full House Resorts Loses Rising Star Site
- Campaigns Split Across Three Counties
A vote on whether inland casino gambling should be permitted in Allen, DeKalb or Steuben counties is on the November 3 Indiana ballot. The question sits as Public Question No. 3, ahead of bail reform and judge residency measures. County election boards certified the language over the summer, and the DeKalb board did so first in July.
A yes vote does not approve a casino. It makes the county eligible to host one. Under House Enrolled Act 1038, the Indiana Gaming Commission can issue only one inland casino licence across the three counties, no matter how many counties win. If a county votes no, the law bars a second public question in that county, so a rejection locks the door for good.
What the Indiana Casino Referendum Decides
The ballot wording is simple: shall inland casino gambling be permitted in [county]? If voters approve in at least one of the three counties, the Commission must open an application period. Any US brick-and-mortar casino operator may enter, but it must submit by December 1, 2026 and name Allen, DeKalb or Steuben as its proposed county.
Applications require a county commissioners’ resolution signed by a majority of the local board, and a letter from the mayor if the site sits inside a city. Applicants must commit to at least $500 million for the casino and non-gaming amenities, with 60% of the initial phase spent within two years of the licence award. The Commission publishes filed applications and a summary by January 15, 2027, then decides by April 15, 2027. It can approve only one application or deny all of them.
One Licence, $500M Minimum Commitment
The winning operator pays a $150 million fee in five equal annual instalments. One $100 million share goes to the state general fund, while $50 million goes to the shuttered riverboat fund. The casino is capped at 1,500 gambling games, pays a 3.5% supplemental wagering tax on adjusted gross receipts, and signs a development agreement with the host county.
Tax revenue splits 10% to the regional development authority for northeast Indiana, 45% to the host city and 45% to the host county. If rival operators bid for the same county, the Commission can open sealed supplemental bidding, including payments to the state or the community. The act also bars decisions based on lobbying or unverifiable claims, forcing the Commission to weigh net economic benefit, job quality, site feasibility and effects on other casinos and horse racing.
Full House Resorts Loses Rising Star Site
The bill began as a relocation measure. As first passed by the House, it would have moved the Rising Star Casino licence from Rising Sun on the Ohio River, with Allen, DeKalb, Steuben and Wayne counties eligible to host a $500 million project. Ohio County and Rising Sun officials pushed back, arguing they would lose their largest employer and taxpayer with no clear compensation.
The final law leaves Rising Star where it is and awards a new inland licence instead, while cancelling one unused racino licence. Full House Resorts owns Rising Star, and chief executive Dan Lee told analysts after Gov. Mike Braun signed the bill in March that three well-funded referendums were coming. Casino.org reported the company plans to keep running in Rising Sun. The revenue gap explains the interest: Rising Star generated roughly $42 million in gross revenue and paid $3.6 million in state gaming taxes in the prior year, while a 2025 Indiana Gaming Commission study projected about $204 million in revenue and $61 million in state tax from an Allen County casino.
Campaigns Split Across Three Counties
Advance Fort Wayne Allen County is campaigning for a yes vote in Allen County through its “Yes for Allen” effort. Retired advertising executive Tom Borne said the measure would keep dollars in the county and create jobs. Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker has backed a casino, citing jobs, tourism and economic development. In Steuben County, the Where Fun Wins PAC is campaigning with the county, economic development agency and tourism bureau.
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The Coalition for a Better Indiana opposes the measure in all three counties. Kristen Bissontz called the casino industry predatory, and Cathie Humbarger said voters do not know where a casino would sit. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, covering all three counties, said business development is his priority but gambling is not. If no county approves, the process ends and the next step belongs to lawmakers.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
