(INDIANAPOLIS) - Legislation that could bring a new casino to northeast or eastern Indiana advanced Wednesday, but uncertainty remains about whether the proposal will ultimately pass the Indiana Senate.
According to reporting by the Indiana Capital Chronicle, House Bill 1038 was approved by the Senate Public Policy Committee and sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which faces a Feb. 19 deadline to move the bill forward during the short legislative session.
The measure would allow the license for the Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun to be relocated to another part of the state. Allen, DeKalb, Steuben and Wayne counties are currently under consideration.
Committee Chair Ron Alting said lawmakers are still discussing potential changes. Proposed amendments included creating an entirely new casino license instead of relocating the existing one and limiting eligible locations to Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties by removing Wayne County from consideration. No amendments were adopted before the bill advanced.
If approved, the selected casino operator would be required to invest at least $500 million in the new facility within five years of opening.
Leaders from several communities testified both in favor of and against the proposal. Officials from northeast Indiana, including Steuben County, argued a casino could support regional development, while some residents voiced concerns about gambling addiction, crime and property values.
Supporters in Wayne County also urged lawmakers to keep their area eligible. A state-commissioned study released in October ranked the Richmond area as the third-most promising location for a new casino, behind downtown Indianapolis and the Fort Wayne region.
Senate leaders have not indicated what final version of the bill could pass. A similar proposal endorsed by the same committee in December failed to reach the Senate floor before an earlier deadline.
The Rising Star Casino generates roughly $42 million in annual revenue and is a major employer in Ohio County. Lawmakers said any relocation plan must address potential economic impacts on that community, including lost tax revenue.
The Appropriations Committee must act soon for the bill to reach the full Senate before the legislative session concludes.