The Indiana Gaming Commission will announce its choice of developer for the Vigo County casino in Terre Haute at its November 17 meeting, but will not be able to issue a casino license “as a practical matter,” said IGC Deputy Director Jenny Reske.
She said commissioners will be able to “evaluate the applicants and make a selection, but issuing a casino license is complicated by the fact that there is a Lucy Luck appeal pending and a stay has been granted by the administrative law judge.”
In June, the IGC voted unanimously to not renew the casino license issued to Lucy Luck Gaming LLC, which was planning to partner with Hard Rock to build a Rocksino by Hard Rock casino in Terre Haute. However, the commission denied the license renewal due to concerns about funding and staffing. Lucy Luck, formerly Spectacle Jack, appealed the commission’s denial. Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Gamboa has set a status hearing regarding Lucy Luck’s appeal for November 16; a formal hearing is scheduled for early December.
The IGC also reopened the license application process with a September 22 deadline. Four developers responded: Hard Rock, which has a resolution of support from Vigo County; Churchill Downs Inc.; Premier Gaming Group/Terre Haute Holdings LLC; and Full House Resorts, which recently announced it signed an agreement with a general contractor for its proposed $250 million American Place casino and hotel, should it be selected by the IGC.
Alex Stolyar, senior vice president and chief development officer for Full House Resorts, told about 55 people at a recent public presentation, “We will use local contractors. It is a big project and want to make sure it is built right.”
He said the property would include a 100,000-square foot casino with 1,000 slots and 50 table games, a 100-room hotel with a spa and a glass “greenhouse” restaurant. The project would create 1,800 construction jobs and 800 permanent jobs, and would generate $58 million in revenue for the county, city and other groups over five years. Full House would open a smaller, temporary casino in the Haute City Center mall while the permanent facility is built in 18-24 months.
