(ANGOLA) - Steuben County voters are now one step closer to deciding whether inland casino gambling should be allowed in the county.
The Steuben County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday morning to approve a resolution placing a casino referendum question on the November 3rd general election ballot.
The referendum is one of the required legal steps under new Indiana legislation allowing Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties to pursue a possible inland casino license.
The Question Voters Would See
Under state law, the referendum question must read:
"Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Steuben County?"
The resolution needed to be approved before June 1st in order for the referendum to appear on the November ballot.
If voters approve the referendum, casino operators could then apply to the Indiana Gaming Commission for a casino license by December 1st.
Approval of the referendum would not automatically guarantee a casino in Steuben County. If multiple eligible counties approve casino gambling, the casino operator would ultimately decide where to locate the development.
If voters reject the referendum, the county cannot place the question before voters again under the current legislation.
How The Issue Reached Steuben County
The current casino legislation grew out of a state-commissioned study examining possible ways to address the struggling Rising Star Casino operation in southeastern Indiana.
One early proposal would have allowed the casino to relocate to northeast Indiana after a market study identified the region as a stronger long-term location for casino development.
Opposition from Ohio County officials and residents later helped stop direct relocation efforts tied to Rising Star.
Lawmakers eventually shifted direction and approved legislation creating a new inland casino license that could potentially be awarded in Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben counties.
What State Law Requires
The law requires any casino applicant to commit to at least a $500 million investment over five years.
Required nongaming amenities would include restaurants, entertainment facilities, spa amenities, and a hotel development.
The legislation also requires a $150 million application fee.
The law does not require a financial contribution from a host county government.
Potential Economic Impact
A study commissioned by the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation estimated a casino in Steuben County could generate between $14.1 million and $16.6 million annually in gaming tax revenue locally.
The same study estimated the development could create between 800 and 1,200 full-time equivalent jobs with average annual wages between $45,000 and $60,000.
Though no formal casino site has been selected, local officials have repeatedly identified the Interstate 69 and Indiana Toll Road corridor near Fremont as a possible development area.