Editor
It’s looking more likely that the struggling riverboat casino property, Rising Star, will get the green light to raise anchor and move inland to more lucrative markets in Northeastern Indiana.
Relocating the Rising Star license has been hotly debated in the Indiana legislature for the last two years, but the requisite bill, HB1038, survived its first significant test earlier this week, passing the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee by a slim 10-8 vote.
If approved, the bill would allow the Rising Star Casino to relocate from Ohio County to one of Allen, DeKalb, Wayne, or Steuben counties. The relocation would require a minimum investment of $500,000 from Rising Star.
Rising Star is currently the worst-performing casino in the state by a large margin. According to the state gaming commission reports, it produced only $243,000 in tax revenue in December. That was less than a third of the second-lowest total.
Rising Star faces fierce competition from modern casinos in Ohio and Kentucky. It’s located in Rising Sun, Indiana, tucked into the Southeast corner of the state. The closest major city is actually Cincinnati, about an hour’s drive across the border.
Indiana Mulls More Land-based Casinos
One can’t say the gambling landscape has been boring in Indiana over the last few years.
First off, the state is in the midst of a multi-year modernization that has transitioned many of its antiquated riverboat casinos into land-based properties. As of 2019, the state also awards licenses to 100% land-based casinos to keep up with competition from nearby states.
Allen County may also get a casino regardless of what happens to Rising Star Casino. Fort Wayne residents recently held a public forum debating the construction of a new casino in the area. Proponents of a Fort Wayne casino hope it will keep locals from spending their gambling dollars in nearby Michigan.
In contrast, Indiana was a regional pioneer in online sports betting. Indiana legalized online sports betting in 2019, beating neighboring states Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. It’s now one of the more mature sports betting markets in the U.S., with tens of millions in revenue.
The same can’t be said for online casino and poker, both of which are still unavailable in the state. Indiana has considered numerous bills that would legalize iGaming, but all died on the vine over the years.
Online Lotteries, VGTs on the Table for Indiana
On the flip side, Indiana may soon get online lotteries and video game terminals (VGTs). The year began with State Rep. Ethan Manning introducing a bill that would permit the Indiana Lottery Commission to sell draw tickets online and offer certain types of e-Instants.
In addition, State Rep. Christopher Judy introduced HB1235, which would legalize VGTs for a wide variety of locations, including truck stops and bars.
Online lotteries and VGTs don’t necessarily mean positive things for broader online gambling legalization, however. Legalization there could be a sign that lawmakers are settling for a more realistic result.
There are several reasons why lawmakers seem to have cooled on online gambling over the last couple of years.
In 2024, former Indiana Rep. Sean Eberhart was sentenced to one year in prison for his role in cutting a favorable deal for gambling company Spectacle Entertainment in the state. As a result, Eberhart was offered a lucrative job with the company, including a salary of $350,000 and an equity stake. It stands to reason that legislators are on high alert for other cases of corruption.
The state is also looking to ban sweepstakes casinos to protect its legal gambling markets.
At the national level, the climate for gambling expansion has perhaps never been frostier, due to a variety of factors, including recent high-profile scandals.
Indiana Looks to Keep Pace with Neighboring States Kentucky, Ohio
Gambling in Indiana is regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC).
Historically, Indiana capped the number of casinos at 11 riverboat licenses, but that cap has been expanded in recent years to compete with neighboring states. Currently, there are 13 casinos in the state, including six riverboat casinos, five land-based casinos, and two racinos.
Three of the land-based casinos were previously riverboat casinos. So, there’s precedent for a move like the one Rising Star hopes to execute.
Since the 2019 land-based casino legalization, Hard Rock and Terre Haute Casino Resort have been built.
The Rising Star relocation bill will now head to a third reading in the full House of Representatives and a final vote. From there, it must pass through the Indiana Senate. Finally, it will need the governor’s signature.
If the bill becomes law, the IGC is expected to begin accepting bids from the eligible counties on Oct. 1, 2026. It should make the final decision by April 15, 2027.
Here’s an updated map of the counties in Indiana that currently have casinos:
