Indiana Voters in This County Will Be Asked to Approve a Casino on November 3
Posted on: May 7, 2026, 05:19h.
Last updated on: May 7, 2026, 05:19h.
- Steuben County has approved a November 2026 ballot referendum
- County voters will be asked if they support a casino in town
- The Northeast Indiana casino concession comes with a one-time $150 million fee
On Nov. 3, 2026, voters in Steuben County will be asked whether they support allowing a casino resort.
In March, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed House Bill 1038. The law allows the local governments of Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben to pass resolutions prompting a countywide referendum to gauge support for casinos, slot machines, and sports betting.
If a simple majority of the county ballot question is positive, the local government can move forward with applying for the lone casino concession that HB1038 created for one of the three counties.
Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Steuben County?” will be the text presented to voters in Steuben County. The ballot language was specified through HB1038.
With less than 35,000 residents, Steuben is the least-populated of the three counties. Wayne has 66,200 people, and DeKalb has 44,530 residents.
Is Steuben Attractive for a Casino?
HB1038 was introduced at the request of Full House Resorts, the Indiana-based gaming company that made it no secret that it wished to shutter its Rising Star Casino Resort in Rising Sun, Ohio County, for a more favorable market in the northeast.
Full House targeted Fort Wayne as an ideal location. A study commissioned by the Indiana Gaming Commission determined the city was the second-most underserved gaming area, behind only Indianapolis.
However, during the politicking of HB1038, a hefty license fee was tacked on — $150 million. The initial bill also would have only allowed Full House to pursue the Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben casino. During the General Assembly’s review, an amendment was adopted allowing any casino company in the United States to bid.
So far, Allen and DeKalb county officials have shown little interest in asking their voters to get behind a casino. If Steuben is the only candidate, enticing a casino company to pay $150 million for a license in the most northeastern part of the state could be a tough bet.
During Full House’s 2025 earnings call, CEO Daniel Lee seemed to hint that the company might stay put in Rising Sun.
The bill changed many times. We make money in Rising Sun. We always have, not a lot of money, but we make money. We continue to make money in Rising Sun. And we will continue to do that for our shareholders, as well as for the good of the state,” Lee said.
Steuben is the furthest from Fort Wayne. The county’s largest city, Angola, is home to fewer than 10,000 people. Fort Wayne is Indiana’s second-largest city with almost 278,000 residents.
Market Projections
In March, the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation released its commissioned study on the tax and job benefits a casino might bring. AM Steinberg Advisors concluded that the county would receive between $14.1 million and $16.6 million a year in gaming taxes.
The study estimated that the Steuben casino would generate gross gaming revenue of $188.6 million to $214 million a year. The projections were based on 1,200 to 1,500 slot machines, around 50 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook.
The report assumed a $500 million casino resort with a 250-room hotel, full-service spa, and numerous restaurants. AM Steinberg Advisors said such a facility would likely create 800 to 1,200 full-time jobs with annual wages ranging from $45,000 to $60,000.
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