(FORT WAYNE) - Greater Fort Wayne Inc. has released a detailed economic impact study examining the potential effects of a casino in Allen County, as local officials seek public input on the issue.
The study was released Tuesday, the same day the Allen County Council hosted a public forum at the Memorial Coliseum to gather community feedback. Council members have said they are not taking a position and do not have a vote on whether a casino would be approved.
The analysis was conducted by CBRE and completed in November 2025. According to the study, a casino in Allen County could generate an estimated $28.1 million annually in local wagering and supplemental wagering tax revenue, create 947 direct jobs and 729 indirect and induced jobs, and support more than 2,400 construction jobs during development.
Greater Fort Wayne Inc. said the study was commissioned to evaluate the potential economic impact of a casino and uses industry-standard modeling. The organization stated the project could attract new spending while recapturing gaming dollars currently spent in other regions.
Discussion of a casino in Allen County has increased since a failed 2024 effort to relocate the Rising Star Casino to the area. A separate 2025 study by the Indiana Gaming Commission identified Indianapolis and DeKalb County as top relocation sites but did not rule out Allen County.
Greater Fort Wayne President John Urbahns said the study is being released to support an informed public discussion and acknowledged that opinions on the issue vary.
No decision timeline has been announced, and related legislation remains under consideration at the Statehouse.