The city of Gary would like to turn Buffington Harbor into an intermodal transportation hub, meaning Majestic Star casino would move from the shore of Lake Michigan, and one of its two gaming licenses could be transferred to another community. But Horseshoe Casino Senior Vice President and General Manager Dan Nita said both of those actions would disrupt the state’s gaming industry and have an impact on other casinos’ investment plans. “We operate with a very defined set of ground rules. This gives all the operators a sense of security, knowing the goal line won’t be moving,” Nita said.
Horseshoe’s parent, Caesars Entertainment, has invested $1.7 billion in the purchased two Indiana racinos for $1.7 billion, and is building a new $85 million Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Nita said. But moving a casino inland and shifting licenses to other communities could jeopardize future investments like those, he noted. “The threat of licenses being moved, it’s a domino effect. You don’t know where it will stop,” Nita said.
However, in its October 30 report, the Indiana General Assembly’s Interim Study Committee on Commerce and Economic Development endorsed the Buffington Harbor proposal, stating it “supports the continued pursuit of the area’s highest and best use as an intermodal hub and the necessary move of the Majestic Star Casino to an alternate location within the city to ensure that the development can achieve its full potential.”
Such a move could make available one of Majestic’s two gaming licenses, which Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. has expressed his city’s interest in acquiring. He said, “Month after month and year after year, Hammond’s Horseshoe Casino leads the way in gaming revenue and taxes generated for the state of Indiana. There isn’t any reason the city can’t continue to make even more money for the state by taking advantage of its border with Illinois.”
Nita, however, said the casino and city have an “outstanding” relationship, but, “this is an instance we’re very much in different positions.”
The legislature would have to approve any changes in casino locations or gaming license holders.
