Applications Reopened for Vigo County Gaming License
(rendering courtesy of Lucy Luck Gaming)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Gaming Commission has officially reopened the application process for the gaming license in Vigo County. The move follows the commission’s decision not to renew the license for Lucy Luck Gaming, which had been planning to open a new Hard Rock casino in Terre Haute.
The commission has posted its guidance for the application process. All proposals for the license will be made public in accordance with state law.
Last week, the commission ruled that Lucy Luck Gaming had not hired an executive team to run the $175 million casino and also did not have full financing secured for the project. An attorney for Lucy Luck told the Tribune-Star the company had not closed on financing because it did not have financing approval from the commission.
Lucy Luck Chairman Greg Gibson said earlier this year he had hoped to open the casino in 2022. Plans for the project have been in the works for nearly two years after the commission approved moving the gaming license from Gary to Vigo County.
Lucy Luck does have the option to re-apply for the license, but in a statement last week, Gibson said he wasn’t sure if he was going to re-apply.
“It truly saddens me to know that the Terre Haute license will be open for a bidding process amongst companies who will be interested in the project solely for monetary gain, and with companies who don’t know our community like Lucy Luck does,” Gibson said. “For me, this project has always been about Terre Haute; it’s been about my home community. Terre Haute deserves this casino, and I wish it could be alongside Lucy Luck Gaming.”
The application fee is $50,000 and the deadline for proposals is September 22. You can view the full guidance from the Indiana Gaming Commission below: