Fort Wayne area legislators signal opposition to casino in New Haven
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Apprehension over the possibility of a major casino coming to New Haven continues, and on Monday, local elected officials signaled opposition to the proposal.
At a town hall meeting in New Haven, State Senators Tyler Johnson, R-New Haven, and Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, as well as State Representative Dave Heine, R-New Haven, all said they do not support legislation to allow Full House Resorts to move its gaming license from Rising Sun up to New Haven.
“In my legislative career I’ve not really been for gambling. I have a pretty negative outlook on it,” Johnson told our reporting partners at WPTA.
The opposition from local officials comes as Las Vegas-based Full House pushes ahead in its plans to build a $500 million casino and hotel off of Interstate-469 east of Fort Wayne. The gaming company’s Rising Star Casino in far southeast Indiana is one of the lowest earning in the state, and Full House executives are pitching lawmakers on projections showing around $80 million in additional annual taxes if they greenlight the move.
But Liz Brown, who represents the senate district where the casino would be built, thinks the damage done to the community if a casino comes to New Haven would be greater than any increase in tax revenues.
“I don’t give a flying fig what unicorns and rainbows they’re promising. I don’t think the amount of money they’re promising is worth it to this community,” Brown said at the meeting, according to WANE-TV.
Ultimately, whether Full House is able to transfer its gaming license will be up the state legislature as a whole. The 2025 legislature sessions begins Jan. 8, though bills can be pre-filed as of Tuesday.
Johnson said part of the reason behind the town hall was to educate residents about the legislative process.
Alex Stolyar, Full House’s chief development officer, previously told Inside INdiana Business he’s confident of getting legislation passed in the upcoming session that allows construction to start.
“We hope the state sees fit to say, ‘Look this is a major revenue producer for the state.’ And as surrounding states has modernized their gaming, Indiana needs to continue to look at ways to make sure Indiana gaming best serves the needs of all Hoosiers,” Stolyar said in October.
Back in September, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported the chairs of both the house and senate Public Policy Committee would consider the proposal.
Even as lawmakers from around New Haven signal their displeasure, Full House has already held a construction contractor fair in the town and is holding an operations vendor fair on Wednesday.