Four companies submit proposals to build casino in Vigo County

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VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The deadline for submitting an application and proposal to the Indiana Gaming Commission to build a casino in Vigo County was at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, and the IGC said they received submissions from four applicants.

Applicants were required to submit a proposal to the commission detailing “the proposed gaming facilities and proposed nongaming amenities, including any lodging facilities, dining facilities and retail facilities, at the proposed casino” as well as pay a $50,000 fee. Existing Indiana casino owners had to submit a new application, but could reference their one on file with the IGC.

Applicants

• CDITH, LLC (Churchill Downs)
• FHR-Atlas LLC (Full House Resorts, Inc.)
• HR Terre Haute, LLC (Hard Rock)
• Terre Haute Entertainment, LLC (Premier Gaming Group and Terre Haute Entertainment Holdings LLC)

According to the IGC, the intention of the application is for Vigo County to benefit from casino operation, and it is the commission’s responsibility to “ensure realization of that goal.” They also said it is their top priority to issue the license as soon as possible.

What happened to Lucy Luck gaming?

The application process for a Vigo County casino reopened on July 1 after the IGC denied an operating license renewal from the previous chosen applicant, Lucy Luck Gaming. According to the official order document from the June 24 ruling, the IGC found Lucy Luck to be ineligible for license renewal after “extensive review and considering all statutory and regulatory qualifications for renewal”.

The IGC also expressed concern that Lucy Luck’s financing was incomplete. It was also noted that an executive team has not yet been established.

What happens now?

According to public documents, the IGC will now conduct investigations on the applicants and then determine a date “for Commission action at a business meeting.”

IGC Executive Director Greg Small said the commission is happy with the results of the application process.

“We are very pleased with the level of interest in the Vigo County casino license and look forward to a competitive selection process,” Small said in a statement to WTWO. “The work to evaluate these proposals begins immediately, with the goal of setting a Commission meeting date for official action before the end of the year.”

IGC spokesperson Jenny Ruske said the commission is working on separating disclosable versus private information in the applications and that full proposals will be available in the coming days.

Who are these applicants?

We reached out to all four companies who submitted an application to the IGC. As of 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, none have directly replied with comment. However, some information on the companies is available.

Applicant Churchill Downs, a company that operates several horseracing tracks in Kentucky and casinos in Illinois, Ohio and Florida, sent out a news release detailing their casino plans Wednesday. Churchill Downs’ proposal to the IGC said the venue would “feature up to 1,000 slot machines, 50 table games, a 125-room luxury hotel, a state-of-the-art TwinSpires sportsbook and several food & beverage offerings.”

Full House Resorts, a Las Vegas-based operator that owns five casinos in four states, also submitted an application. The company already operates one casino through the IGC in Rising Sun, Ind. called “Rising Star Casino and Resort”.

The third applicant, the Florida-based Hard Rock International, is the owner and operator of the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant chain as well as a series of hotels and resorts. The company now also operates a casino through the IGC after taking over the “Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana” in Gary, Ind.

The final applicant, Premiere Gaming Group, operates a multitude of gaming venues across the US, according to the company website, including riverboat gaming operations, racinos, hotels, resorts and slot routes.

On the IGC’s list of applicants, it says Premiere Gaming has partnered with a group titled “Terre Haute Entertainment Holdings LLC,” however it is unknown at this time who operates that group.

This is a developing story. Mywabashvalley.com will be updated with applicants’ proposals once they are made available.