Posted on: March 27, 2026, 01:03h.
Last updated on: March 27, 2026, 01:03h.
- A casino in Indiana’s Steuben County would generate millions of dollars in annual local tax revenue
- That’s according to an economic analysis conducted on the county’s behalf
Indiana lawmakers and Gov. Mike Braun (R) have designated Steuben County as a possible host location for a new casino. An economic study finds that a casino there would deliver considerable financial benefits.
The Steuben County Economic Development Corporation contracted AM Steinberg Advisors to consider how a casino resort in the Northeast Indiana area would benefit the county in terms of local tax revenue. The hospitality consultancy projected that a casino could generate between $14.1 million and $16.6 million in annual local taxes from gaming alone.
The estimates are based on a $500 million casino resort featuring a 250-room hotel, a full-service spa, and multiple restaurants. AM Steinberg Advisors additionally estimated that such an entertainment destination would create 800 to 1,200 full-time jobs with average annual salaries ranging from $45,000 to $60,000.
Northeast Indiana Casino
The Steuben County casino analysis concluded that most visitors would come from out of state, namely, Ohio and Michigan. The study said 62% of the casino revenue would be derived from out-of-state residents.
Steuben is all-in on a casino, with the county launching a website last month, campaigning to attract a casino company to bet on the area. The county has offered a property at the crossroads of Interstate 69 and the Indiana Toll Road for a casino resort.
The Steuben County Casino Resort is envisioned as a premier regional destination that blends modern gaming, live entertainment, dining, and hospitality with the natural beauty that defines the area. Designed to attract visitors from Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, the casino will serve as both an economic anchor and a powerful economic driver for the region,” the county website reads.
Labeling the casino as a “cornerstone for sustainable economic growth,” Steuben County needs the support of voters to bring a casino to Angola. House Bill 1038, the gaming expansion bill signed by Braun earlier this month, requires Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben to conduct a ballot referendum during the 2026 November election to poll residents about whether they support casino gambling.
“Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in (insert the name of the county)?” the law requires the counties to ask.
Any casino company in the United States can submit a bid for the Northeast Indiana casino license authorized by HB1038. Fort Wayne in Allen County is likely to be targeted, as a study commissioned by the Indiana Gaming Commission pinpointed the city as among the most attractive underserved gaming market in the Hoosier State.
Opposition Raises Concerns
Opponents to allowing a casino in Steuben County have raised concerns about how gambling might negatively impact the community. They believe a casino would damage the family-friendly reputation of Northeast Indiana by increasing crime, addiction, and financial problems.
The county’s casino campaign website says those concerns are largely unfounded and that such an investment would deliver a net positive outcome.
