- A bunch opposing a on line casino in Fort Wayne has shaped
- State lawmakers are contemplating permitting a on line casino in Indiana’s second-largest metropolis
A grassroots coalition of neighbors, enterprise homeowners, and religion leaders against efforts within the Indiana legislature to designate Fort Wayne for a on line casino is ramping up its marketing campaign.
Fort Wayne’s downtown space on Berry St. is pictured. An nameless group has shaped to oppose legislative efforts to permit a on line casino in Indiana’s second-largest metropolis. (Picture: Getty)
“Save Fort Wayne” just lately launched an internet site claiming {that a} on line casino would negatively have an effect on Indiana’s second-largest metropolis.
The marketing campaign suggests {that a} on line casino wouldn’t deliver 1000’s of high-paying jobs as promised by on line casino curiosity teams, however “low-wage and non permanent” positions. As an alternative of turning into a tourism magnet for the area, Save Fort Wayne claims a on line casino would generate a “native wealth extraction.”
And as a substitute of many tens of millions of native tax {dollars}, monies that on line casino lobbyists usually say can be utilized to assist enhance infrastructure, Save Fort Wayne argues a on line casino would lead to an “infrastructure burden.”
The proposed on line casino enlargement creates a web loss for our metropolis, introducing dangers of habit and elevated crime. Save Fort Wayne has shaped a coalition of the keen that bridges political and demographic divides,” the marketing campaign web site reads.
The web site consists of an interactive slot machine the place the spin all the time lands on an alleged detrimental consequence. Slot spin outcomes embody “habit,” “bankruptcies,” “divorces,” “psychological well being points,” “deadly accidents,” “little one neglect,” “human trafficking,” and “poverty.”
Nameless Opposition
Save Fort Wayne is described as a “volunteer effort by involved residents of Allen County.” On line casino.org didn’t discover any political motion committee registered with that title on the Indiana Secretary of State web site.
21Alive News requested an interview with Save Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne-based information outlet reported that the group denied the request, citing its needs to stay nameless.
Given the political nature of this venture and our obligations to present employers, we have now chosen to stay nameless to guard our skilled careers,” the group responded.
Full Home Resorts is lobbying state lawmakers for the proper to relocate its Rising Solar On line casino to a extra engaging market. Southeast Indiana is not as aggressive because it as soon as was, following the legalization of a on line casino in Cincinnati and the authorization of slot-like historic horse racing (HHR) machines in Kentucky.
Senate Invoice 70, filed Dec. 8 by Sen. Justin Busch (R-Whitley, Allen), would allow Full Home Resorts to maneuver to Fort Wayne or anyplace else in Allen County. SB70 would additionally stipulate that Full Home would wish to pay the state $50 million ought to it promote or switch possession of the license inside the subsequent 10 years.
Home Invoice 1038, launched on Dec. 1, the primary day of the Indiana Basic Meeting’s 2026 session that runs by means of February, would authorize a on line casino in Allen County with an upfront licensing price of $50 million. Full Home would wish to bid towards every other firm within the gaming alternative.
Efforts to deliver a on line casino to Fort Wayne are supported by Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker (D).
Guide Suggestions
Indiana lawmakers pumped the brakes earlier this yr on Fort Wayne on line casino payments in favor of commissioning a examine to find out the state’s largest untapped gaming markets. The Indiana Gaming Fee tapped Pennsylvania-based Spectrum Gaming to deal with the evaluation.
Spectrum concluded that other than Indianapolis, Fort Wayne presents the best income alternative for a on line casino. The consultancy reported {that a} on line casino in Allen County would generate annual gaming win of greater than $200 million.
A Fort Wayne on line casino would improve the state’s annual tax receipts by an estimated $38.3 million, after an anticipated $4.3 million discount in gaming taxes from the state’s two racinos in Anderson and Shelbyville.
