Spectacle Entertainment recently filed an application with the Indiana Gaming Commission for approval to acquire the two Majestic Star casinos in Gary. The recently formed Spectacle is owned by Terre Haute businessman Greg Gibson and former Centaur Gaming Chairman Rod Ratcliff.
The two gaming licenses in Gary date back to 1993, the early days of casino gambling in Indiana, when riverboat casinos were required to cruise Lake Michigan. With two boats, one was always docked and available for passengers.
Now Gary officials want to relocate one Majestic Star casino on land, possibly near the Borman Expressway exit, in order to transform Buffington Harbor into an intermodal transportation hub. Spectacle General Counsel John Keeler said the new casino owners are “committed to leaving one license in Gary,” although he noted the legislature ultimately would determine if casino licenses could be moved. They’ve also proposed moving the second license to Terre Haute.
Mayor Duke Bennett said a casino there would generate revenue, create jobs and provide another attraction. “People in Illinois have nowhere to go to gamble. And so the idea is, we could bring those Illinois dollars in Indiana, serve this west central, this underserved market from the gaming perspective, and everybody benefits,” he said.
State Senator Jon Ford, who represents Terre Haute, recently suggested that lawmakers consider moving both casino licenses out of Gary. “From an economic development standpoint, we need to really think about the Gary licenses and are we best using our state assets, in terms of the licenses, at that location where it is now. It’s been my belief that if we’re going to be a gaming state, let’s be a gaming state, and maximize our revenue. I personally believe that moving the licenses is a way to do that. I’ve long believed that moving positions, moving a license, is something that eventually we will have to do to keep being competitive with other Midwest states,” Ford said.
Last year, Ford sponsored a measure allowing allow Full House Resorts’ Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, near the Ohio border, to move 750 unused gaming positions to a new Terre Haute casino. The bill died in committee, with lawmakers stating it unfairly favored a single casino operator. Now Full House Resorts officials said they look forward to competing with other casino operators, including Spectacle Entertainment, “to present the best proposal for Terre Haute and for Indiana.”
Officials in Hammond and Portage also have expressed interest in obtaining one of Gary’s gaming licenses, and in the past lawmakers in Northeast Indiana also have suggested bringing a casino to the underserved Fort Wayne area.
Also in Indiana, Caesars Entertainment officials recently announced planned improvements will be completed at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson in time for the 160-day 2019 racing season, which will run March 29 through November 9. Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing Rick Moore said, “Fresh off the heels of a successful 25th Silver Anniversary season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, we are busy preparing and anxiously awaiting the 2019 live harness racing season. We remain committed to the highest quality of racing and look forward to welcoming the fans and horsemen back to Hoosier Park in March.”
Renovations include an exclusive new 100-seat VIP lounge, similar to luxury suites at basketball and football stadiums, said Caesars spokeswoman Kiersten Flint. She added most of the new information technology infrastructure integrating Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Anderson with the Caesars Entertainment Total Rewards program is complete. As a result, visitors will be able to move seamlessly from casino gaming to horse racetrack betting while earning points that can be redeemed for food vouchers, concert tickets or hotel stays. Gamblers at the two Indiana racetracks and Caesars’ three off-track betting locations will receive one point for every $3 wagered on an out-of-state race and one point for every $1.50 bet on a race at the two tracks.
Caesars officials said they also will pursue the 2020 Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park and the 2020 Quarter Horse Challenge Championship at Indiana Grand.
