Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) Executive Director Greg Small recently received letters from the three Vigo County Commissioners, the seven Vigo County councilmembers, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce President Kristin Craig and 2021 Terre Haute Chamber Chair John Collett, urging the commission to select Hard Rock to operate Vigo County’s future casino. The IGC said it will make a decision regarding the Vigo County casino license on November 17.
Hard Rock Terre Haute LLC is one of four companies competing for the county casino license. The other applicants include Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc., Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts and a joint venture of Mississippi-based Premier Gaming Group.
Hard Rock’s $200 million Rocksino Terre Haute would offer a casino with 850 slot machines and 35 table games, plus a 175-room hotel, six restaurants and bars, a 300-person entertainment venue and a 1,000-squar- foot retail Rock Shop. The project would create 2,058 construction jobs and 674 permanent jobs, and generate $50 million in annual county and state tax revenue.
The commissioners’ and chamber officials’ letters stated Hard Rock would “provide the best economic opportunity for Vigo County and the West Central region.” They cited the November 2019 referendum, in which 63 percent of Vigo County voters supported the casino project and all five letters noted Hard Rock could begin construction almost immediately.
Furthermore, the letter from the Vigo County council noted a “local member” involved in Hard Rock Terre Haute LLC had a “long history of community involvement, community investment, and charitable giving” in Vigo County. Observers said that individual is local businessman Greg Gibson, a partner in the proposed casino. Gibson owns Lucy Luck Gaming, which previously held the Vigo County casino license. However, the Indiana Gaming Commission would not renew Lucy Luck’s license following an “extensive review and considering all statutory and regulatory qualifications for renewal.”
Regarding Gibson, Hard Rock issued a statement: “We are glad to be in this joint venture with our partner Greg Gibson, a Terre Haute native. Hard Rock would be honored to expand our presence in this region and continue to be loyal community stewards to the people of Indiana.”
One of the other competitors, Full House Resorts, has proposed the $250 million American Place Terre Haute. Full House is the only company that proposed a temporary location while its main building is under construction. Officials said the permanent facility would create 1,800 construction and 800 permanent jobs. It would offer a gaming floor with 1,000 slots and 50 tables, plus a 100-room hotel. Full House Resorts owns five casinos in four states, including Rising Star Casino and Resort in Rising Sun, Indiana.
Churchill Downs’ proposed Queen of Terre Haute Casino would create 1,000 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs, officials said. The gaming floor would offer 1,000 slots and 50 table games. An on-site hotel would have 125 rooms.
Premier Gaming officials said their proposed casino would create 300 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs. It would offer a gaming floor with 800 slot machines and 20 table games.
