The debate over introducing a casino in Allen County has taken another turn with the release of a new study.
Conducted by CBRE and commissioned by Greater Fort Wayne Inc., the study suggests that a casino in Fort Wayne could offer substantial economic benefits, outperforming earlier proposals for a New Haven site.
“The study was completed in late November and has been used internally as part of our due diligence and planning process,” Greater Fort Wayne President John Urbahns explained to WANE-TV. “As the Fort Wayne First public education campaign matured and the findings began to inform broader communications, we felt it was appropriate to make the full study available.
This development comes at a crucial moment as lawmakers deliberate on granting a license for the market, despite strong opposition.
It also comes at a time when lawmakers are discussing the possibility of bringing a casino to downtown Indianapolis as well.
The Financial Upside of a Fort Wayne Casino
The CBRE study estimates that a Fort Wayne casino could generate over $107 million in annual tax revenue, with $25 million directed to Fort Wayne city itself.
To put this into perspective, their previous study for a New Haven casino projected about $80 million in taxes annually, with New Haven receiving $18 million.
The Greater Fort Wayne study also projects about 947 direct jobs at the casino, including:
- Gaming Operations
- Hotel
- Food and Beverage
- Security
- Maintenance
- Administration
These positions are typically a mix of full‑time roles with benefits (dealers, slot techs, cage, surveillance, management) and lower‑wage hourly roles (servers, housekeepers, valets), giving the property a broad employment footprint across skill levels.
Comparing Different Casino Proposals
The earlier New Haven study was linked to Full House Resorts' proposal to relocate the Rising Star Casino license to a New Haven site.
That plan promised over 2,400 jobs and nearly $290 million in annual gaming revenue after five years. Meanwhile, an independent study by Spectrum Gaming had projected that a casino near Fort Wayne could generate $204 million in annual gross gaming revenue and $61 million in taxes according to current laws.
The Legislative Landscape
The casino proposals face a complex legislative environment.
A bill to relocate the Rising Sun license to New Haven failed over concerns about favoring a struggling operator. SB 293 received a public hearing in early 2025 but was held in committee and never received a vote to advance, so it died for that session.
Instead, lawmakers called for a market analysis, which Spectrum provided. More recently, Rep. Craig Snow introduced House Bill 1038, proposing a new casino license in Allen County with an upfront fee of $50 million, anticipating a net tax gain for the state despite the potential impact on existing venues.
The bill also requires the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) to collect and review applications from those interested in owning a casino in Allen County. All applicants would have to meet certain legal conditions to qualify.
Understanding the Different Tax Projections
The differences in projected tax revenues between the studies—$107 million for Greater Fort Wayne, $80 million for New Haven, and $61 million from Spectrum—can be attributed to the scope and specifics considered.
The $107 million figure includes various tax streams and considers a broader regional impact.
In contrast, the earlier New Haven estimate focused on a specific development, while Spectrum's number reflected only gaming taxes under current laws.
What's Next For a Possible Casino in Fort Wayne?
For analysts and stakeholders, the path forward involves monitoring key developments: the fate of HB 1038 in the 2026 legislative session, the balance between new revenues versus impacts on existing casinos, and whether other regions may compete for a new license.
Opposition has emerged in the form of “Save Fort Wayne,” a campaign led by anonymous business and finance professionals aiming to slow down or halt these efforts.
Each study underscores northeastern Indiana's potential to support a successful regional casino, but realizing this potential depends on navigating political, economic, and competitive considerations.
