Pro-Casino PAC Raises $516K Before Northeast Indiana Referendum
Advance Fort Wayne, the political action committee backing a casino in northeast Indiana, has reported raising $516,000 this year, almost all of it from a single donor.
Voters in Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties decide on November 3, 2026 whether their county can compete for the state's next Indiana casino licence.
The figures come from the final campaign finance reports filed before Election Day, as reported by Fort Wayne station WPTA on October 16, 2026.
What The Filing Shows
Of the $516,000 raised, $500,000 came from Richard Byers, the former president of Automotive Color & Supply Corp, which is about 97% of the total. WPTA reported that the PAC has spent more than $123,000 on pro-casino advertising.
WPTA added that early voting at the Rousseau Centre in Fort Wayne runs until Monday, November 2, and that polls open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day.
What Voters Are Deciding
The referendums stem from House Enrolled Act 1038, which requires each county election board to put the question on the 2026 general election ballot. The question reads: Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in the named county.
The Indiana Gaming Commission cannot issue a licence in any of the three counties unless local voters approve, and a county that votes no cannot hold a second vote on the question.
Each county's circuit court clerk certifies the result to the commission and the Department of State Revenue. Only one licence is on offer. The commission may approve a single application across the three counties and may deny all of them if none meets the standard.
Application Timeline & Investment Rule
If a county says yes, any operator of a brick-and-mortar casino in the United States can apply for the licence by December 1, 2026, naming Allen, DeKalb or Steuben County. The commission must issue a final decision on each application, with written findings, by April 15, 2027.
Applicants must commit to invest at least $500 million in a casino and non-gaming amenities in the chosen county, according to the act. Only operators of existing brick-and-mortar casinos in the United States are eligible to apply.
What To Watch
The result on November 3 will decide which counties can host a bid, and the commission's decision follows by mid-April. A no vote in any county ends its chance of a casino under the act.
Readers can see what is already legal in the state in our guide to Indiana sportsbooks.
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