Indiana’s House approved House Bill 1038 on Monday, 67‑30, clearing the first hurdle for moving the Rising Star Casino out of the Ohio River town of Rising Sun. The measure opens a bidding window for four counties—Allen, DeKalb, Steuben and Wayne—to host the relocated facility, expanding the market beyond the current Fort Wayne corridor.

The bill obliges the winning operator to pour at least $500 million into construction within five years, with the Indiana Gaming Commission slated to name a developer by April 15, 2027. A $50 million state fee and a $30 million payout to Rising Sun and Ohio County are built in, while the license transfer could fetch the casino’s fair‑market value.

Republican Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray signaled confidence the upper chamber will act before February’s deadline, citing the commission’s study that forecasts higher tax yields in northeast Indiana. Investors will watch the competitive ripple across Ohio and Michigan casinos and monitor whether the relocation spurs new gaming revenue without cannibalizing existing Indiana horse‑track venues.