No reopening dates have been by set by the Indiana Gaming Commission for the state’s casinos, which remain closed due to Covid-19. However, the commission was scheduled to hold a virtual public meeting Friday, May 15 to consider a gaming license for Vigo County. Spectacle Jack LLC was the only applicant for a land-based Terre Haute casino after the state legislature and a voter referendum last year allowed a casino to be built in Vigo County.
The commission originally was going to act on the application in February, but that meeting was cancelled after federal charges surfaced of alleged illegal campaign contributions tied to Spectacle Entertainment.
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett said if Spectacle is awarded a gaming license, ground could be broken on the $125 million, 100,000-square-foot property later this year. The Hard Rock Rocksino Terre Haute would be operated under the Hard Rock International brand and offer 1,200 slots and table games, a 300-seat theatre, four restaurants including a Hard Rock Café and eventually a hotel. The project is expected to create 600 new jobs.
Casino wagering taxes are expected to generate more than $7 million for local governments and business development. In addition, Spectacle will pay Terre Haute $3 million per $100 million adjusted gross receipts plus a payment equal to 3 percent of the company’s net commission from any sports wagering vendor.
Recently, the gaming commission announced Spectacle Entertainment Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Rod Ratcliff and Vice President and General Counsel John Keeler no longer are involved in Spectacle Jack LLC’s operations. Gaming Commission Deputy Director Jenny Reske said, as Ratcliff and Keeler were involved in the federal investigation of illegal campaign contributions, “Spectacle Entertainment, Mr. Ratcliff and Mr. Keeler have fully cooperated with the IGC’s review of this matter but indicated they wished to provide a voluntary remedy which would allow commission consideration without additional delay. The amended application reflects that Mr. Ratcliff and Mr. Keeler are no longer involved in Spectacle Jack’s operations. They’ve divested of all their interests in it,” Reske said.
The revised application for the license lists Terre Haute entrepreneur Greg Gibson and Spectacle Entertainment Executive Vice President Jim Brown as the only board members. Gibson stated, “I am happy to see the Indiana Gaming Commission moving forward with a virtual meeting regarding Vigo County’s casino license. I am looking forward to making our presentation and their consideration of our efforts”
Bennett commented, “I believe the commission has addressed all the issues. I’m guessing that or they wouldn’t have had this meeting scheduled to put that on the agenda. So we’re looking forward to hopefully some positive news on Friday.”
Spectacle owns the Majestic Star casino license in Gary, where it is constructing pursuing a $300 million land-based casino to replace the two Majestic Star riverboats.
