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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDiscussions about moving a gaming license from southeast Indiana to Fort Wayne didn’t move forward, but the measure did result in an initial showing of bipartisan support for a casino in downtown Indianapolis.
Senate Bill 43 would have commissioned a study to identify where the best place in the state would be if casino licenses were to move. It’s a consolation prize for proponents of moving the gaming license of Full House Resorts from Rising Sun, Indiana, up to Allen County.
But during debate in the Indiana Senate, Sens. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, and Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, both said they’re open to bringing a casino to the state capital. Various license holders have tried to make a move to Indiana’s largest market in recent years, but those efforts faced tough opposition.
“If the purpose of gaming is revenue, why there is not a casino in downtown Indianapolis defies my understanding,” Freeman said. “It would support all of our tourism, all of our big games, all of our industry—everything in Indianapolis would support it. I 100% support it and I look forward next year to the opportunity to have that conversation.”
That bill drew out dozens of supporters and opponents to an emotional Senate committee earlier this month, but died without even getting a committee vote. The new language merely authorizing the Indiana Gaming Commission to study the matter passed the Senate on Tuesday.
Freeman and Taylor, however, don’t feel they need a study to figure out where to put a new casino.
“I want it in downtown Indianapolis,” said Taylor.
Indianapolis is a sought-after market for gaming, but no proposal has been able to clear the necessary hurdles. Before eyeing New Haven, Full House made a run at moving its license to Indianapolis in 2015 with a pitch for a $650 million upscale retail center and casino near the Indianapolis Airport.
Full House was also in the running for the Vigo County gaming license which ultimately was awarded to Churchill Downs Inc.
That idea died with opposition from the Indianapolis Airport Authority as well as casino operators in Anderson and Shelbyville, who have attacked any proposal they feel would cut in on their revenue streams.
In the 1990s, there were rumblings of a racetrack at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, but obvious hesitancy from lawmakers over the years yielded few serious attempts to bring gambling directly to Indianapolis.
That hesitancy could be thawing, as evidenced by a flurry of gaming-related bills this session. That’s compared to the past three sessions where there was an unofficial moratorium on gambling licenses by legislative leaders following federal investigations into the connection between Indiana legislators the casino industry.
Early signs of local, bipartisan support for an Indianapolis casino is also promising. Full Houses’ move to New Haven faced an uphill battle with two Allen County senators—Liz Brown and Tyler Johnson—both being staunchly opposed.
The Indiana Legislature would have to approve moving any existing gaming licenses or creating new ones.
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Can any Indiana community with a casino say they are better off today with the casino than before it opened?
I seriously question the benefits of casinos, and I’m really concerned that those with gambling addictions would be even more vulnerable with a casino potentially being 24 hours and accessible by public transit.
Yeah, I don’t see this improving Downtown at all. It seems like a great way to draw in gambling addicts and would make the panhandling problem worse.
I know for a fact that Orange County, and specifically French Lick and West Baden, are MUCH better off today than before its casino opened. That being said, Cook invested in creating a world-class destination with much more appeal than “just” a casino, but the casino was the catalyst, for sure.
I don’t like the idea of a new casino in Downtown Indy. However, **if** it’s going to happen, then there needs to be a way for the locality (City) to get direct tax revenues. If we’re going to push down property tax revenues and gut localities of their capacity to govern and provide service, then there needs to be an alternate revenue stream.
If you put one in Downtown make it a MGM PROPERTY!
These are some of the most ridiculous comments I’ve seen yet (at least today).
Yes, a casino in downtown Indy, and Yes a casino in Union Station!!!
We’ve been waiting for this since Union Station was brought back to life in the 1980’s.
With the new 32 story hotel and convention center expansion, and the numerous other hotels in and coming on in downtown Indy, this makes total sense. The Fever building a championship team, and the possible MLS team and stadium coming, not to mention the Pacers, Colts, and Indians, and big time concerts, this casino is the icing on the cake. Go for it legislators, we’ve been waiting for it over 40 years!!
I would locate it out by the old Airport location away from downtown where all the homeless and gangs hang. People are afraid to even go into a parking garage downtown.
I would have them build a Bellagio like building something nice and clean none smoking upscale Casino. People who fly into INDY would have a very nice hotel with something to do.
Don’t INDY still have the old Airport parking garage out there too? Union Station is a very bad idea.
This is a terrible idea, and a predatory use.
And its close to down too.
Union Station is perfect.