Feb. 24: Casino legislation moves back to the House
Indiana casino legislation returned to the House, with concerns raised about its favoring of Fort Wayne and Allen County.Summary
The bill authorizing a new casino license in Indiana has returned to the House of Representatives, prompting concerns from Representative Tony Isa regarding its potential bias towards Fort Wayne and Allen County. Isa expressed his contemplation of voting against the bill, citing its departure from the original intent of relocating an underperforming casino license and the removal of a referendum requirement. The Senate version of the bill, passed 26-22, now allows the Indiana Gaming Commission to award a license in Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben County, requiring a $500 million investment over five years and a $150 million payment to the state. Senator Justin Busch championed the bill, highlighting the potential for a $500 million resort-style development and economic growth in northeast Indiana, while Isa argued that the bill deviates from Indiana’s historical approach of bringing economic development to more rural areas.
(Source：Fort Wayne Business Weekly)