The city of Hammond, Indiana is asking that if the neighboring city of Gary moves its floating casino the Majestic Star from Buffington Harbor to the Interstate 80/94 corridor that it gets the casino license. Gary wants to do redevelopment at that site.
The legislature’s study committee on Commerce and Economic Development voted 8-1 last week to recommend supporting Gary’s move of the Majestic Star Casino and the redevelopment of the harbor.
It’s unusual to argue that moving a casino away from a city will stimulate economic growth, but that was the upshot of the proposal by Gary officials.
The move has the potential to change the gaming landscape of Northwest Indiana, which currently has five casinos: the Horseshoe in Hammond, Ameristar in East Chicago, two Majestic Star casinos in Gary and the Blue Chip in Michigan.
As noted, the Majestic Star has two casino licenses. If it moves, one license would go with it and the other license would become available to another city.
Hammond would like to bid on that license. If its bid is successful, that would give it a second casino, in addition to the Horseshoe Casino. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. commented, “I think it would be an amazing windfall for our city.”
Hammond isn’t the only city interested in the license if it becomes available. So are the cities of Portage, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. However, by acting as quickly as it did with its resolution, Hammond’s council is hoping to at least get to the head of the line.
Portage first had the opportunity for a casino license a quarter century ago, and Porter County residents turned it down. That attitude may have changed, according to Portage City Council President Mark Oprisko, who wants to bid for one of the licenses.
Oprisko wants the license to locate to city owned property that was originally slated to be used for a sports resort, something that never happened due to a bankruptcy. The city of Portage is working to regain control of the land, which is near to Interstate 94.
Back in 1993, when the city opposed a casino, residents cited concerns such as crime. Oprisko notes that other cities in the state haven’t reported any crime increases.
The council president isn’t getting unanimous support for his proposal. Portage Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham warned “Portage should tread lightly before diving head first into trying to get a casino. We should put a plan together first that looks at the impact to our services and whether the casino will bring the type of development we want.”
