Anonymous Group Increases Criticism of Fort Wayne, Indiana Casino

Sides are becoming further divided in the case of a prospective Fort Wayne, Indiana casino.

An anonymous anti-casino group is attempting to stymie the legislative progress of the casino. Members include local residents, business owners, and religious leaders, all of whom are hoping to prevent Fort Wayne from being allowed to host a casino.

The group, called “Save Fort Wayne,” is teaming up with registered opponents of the proposals.

Why oppose the Fort Wayne casino?

A pair of bills to legalize a Fort Wayne casino have already been submitted.

HB 1038, introduced in early December, would establish a new casino in Allen County, which includes Fort Wayne. The bill requires the Indiana Gaming Commission to field license applications and charge a $50 million fee to the licensee.

SB 70 would allow the Rising Star Casino in southeastern Indiana to move to Fort Wayne or Allen County. Owning and operating group Full House Resorts would be required to pay a $25 million relocation fee and $500 million to support non-gaming amenities in the county.

According to Save Fort Wayne, bringing a casino into the city could increase addiction, crime rates, and “local wealth extraction,” which is the group's term for taking money out of the pockets of patrons. They also said that the economic benefits and influx of jobs would not outweigh the drawbacks.

“The proposed casino expansion creates a net loss for our city, introducing risks of addiction and increased crime,” the group’s website reads. “Save Fort Wayne has formed a coalition of the willing that bridges political and demographic divides,” the campaign website reads.”

The website also includes a slot machine that includes the outcomes “addiction,” “bankruptcies,” “child neglect,” “divorces,” “fatal accidents,” “human trafficking,” “mental health issues,” and “poverty.”

Change on the way?

Save Fort Wayne is not registered as a Political Action Committee. However, its presence is growing amid Indiana legislators’ discussions of passing several gaming measures.

The goal of Save Fort Wayne is to increase the public’s say in the ongoing state of affairs related to the gambling ecosystem. That could mean voting at a ballot referendum during an upcoming election.

The local government, however, is intrigued by the possibility of economic development and a revenue-sharing model.

Industry groups, meanwhile, have warned against HB 1038 and adding a new casino into the state’s market. They prefer SB 70, which would only relocate the bill.

Regardless of what happens with the Fort Wayne casino, 2026 could prove to be a major year for Indiana’s gaming industry. 

In addition to mulling the retail casino, state officials are considering legalizing online casinos and banning sweepstakes casinos. Only seven states offer legal online casino markets, while sweepstakes casinos are facing increased regulatory scrutiny nationwide.