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Vote Yes for Allen County’s Future on November 3rd

The upcoming casino referendum is Allen County’s opportunity to create thousands of new jobs and generate millions in new revenue — without raising taxes. Those are paychecks for family, friends and neighbors, and funding for infrastructure, public safety and schools.

A YES vote is how we do it.

 

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What This Means for Allen County

  • 2,000 New Permanent Jobs

    A recent economic study projects over 2,000 new permanent jobs and approximately 5,500 construction jobs would be created by this development — jobs for Allen County residents. That’s a paycheck for family, friends and neighbors.

    Source: CBRE (2025)

  • Tax Relief for Residents

    A casino development would generate millions in new revenue — helping to reduce the tax burden on residents over time.

  • $100+ Million Annually

    Independent studies project a casino development would generate more than $100 million in new revenue annually without raising taxes — including more than $41 million in new local revenue to fund community priorities — and generate nearly $550 million in economic output annually by year three of operations.

    Source: CBRE (2025)

  • Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Schools

    New revenue could support infrastructure improvements, fund schools and public safety expand mental health services and invest in other community priorities — without raising taxes.

  • Keep Dollars Local

    Studies show much of Northeast Indiana’s gaming-related spending currently benefits casino communities in Michigan and Ohio — not Allen County. A YES vote lets our community compete to bring that revenue back and put it to work here for Allen County residents.

    Source: Spectrum Gaming Group (2025); CBRE (2025)

    “Indiana Study for Relocation of Gambling Operations,” Spectrum Gaming Group (2025); “Greater Fort Wayne Area Casino Analysis,” CBRE (2025)

    Multiple Layers of Accountability

    A YES vote does not automatically approve a casino. Any future development would still require approval from local elected officials and the Indiana Gaming Commission — with strict state and local oversight at every step.

    • 1.

      Referendum Vote

      Allen County voters decide on November 3, 2026, if the county should compete for a casino license. A NO vote ends the process entirely.

    • 2.

      Local Government Approval

      A casino operator must secure support from Allen County Commissioners — and, if the proposed casino is located within Fort Wayne, the mayor — before submitting an application.

    • 3.

      Application Submission

      A casino operator submits an application to the Indiana Gaming Commission by December 1, 2026, in accordance with IC 4-33-6.8.

    • 4.

      Indiana Gaming Commission Review and Licensure

      The Indiana Gaming Commission reviews all applications and must issue a final decision approving or denying each by April 15, 2027.

      • We’re using that gaming revenue…to increase our sidewalk inventory, pave more streets, demo condemned homes, build a new YMCA, invest in our Deming Park pool, which is a huge component of our quality of life plan, See You In Terre Haute.

        Brandon Sakbun — Mayor, Terre Haute

        Inside INdiana Business, Apr. 14, 2025

      • I always like to point out that some of our very clear physical projects and improvements people are seeing is coming from gaming tax revenue.

        Brandon Sakbun — Mayor, Terre Haute

        MyWabashValley.com, May 2, 2025

      • Definitely from a tax standpoint, the gaming revenue has been helpful. The gaming revenue is going to projects like more street paving, more sidewalks, definitely some demolition projects. As well as its helping fund our YMCA renovation and the Deming Park pool project. So, definitely some good projects.

        Brandon Sakbun — Mayor, Terre Haute

        MyWabashValley.com, May 2, 2025

      • So it’s very important to say hey look, a lot of these smaller projects and bigger projects you see across the community, they’re not coming from you. They are coming from economic development tax revenue and casino gaming tax revenue.

        Brandon Sakbun — Mayor, Terre Haute

        MyWabashValley.com, May 2, 2025

      • Casino gaming revenue and our economic development end-of-year funds have grown 67% over the last three years. We’re putting that growth straight back into our neighborhoods.

        Brandon Sakbun — Mayor, Terre Haute

        MyWabashValley.com, Sept. 2026

      • Mayor Sakbun said the Terre Haute Convention Center and the addition of the Terre Haute Casino Resort have been keys to the city’s growth, and noted the casino subsidizes free public transit rides (an 82% one-month ridership increase).

      • Caesars Southern Indiana has provided a large source of revenue and entertainment for both Hoosiers and out-of-state visitors. They have been a great partner to Harrison County, it’s surrounding counties and the State of Indiana. Revenue coming from the casino has enabled our local governments to fund projects that have promoted economic development.

        State Rep. Karen Engleman

        Casino Association of Indiana