Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett says he's optimistic about the possible revenue and employment a proposed casino could bring to the city.
Full House Resorts owns and operates Rising Star Casino in a small Indiana town just west of Cincinnati. But that casino is only using about half of the 1,500 gaming positions allowed.
State Senator Jon Ford, R-Terre Haute, is proposing a bill that would clear the way to move some of those unused games to Terre Haute.
Bennett says there's no tax incentives or city investment, but understands the project may elicit negative connotations.
"Crime doesn't go up," Bennett says. "You may have a few more people that might be addicted here locally that aren't now and that's the goal of not only the casino, but locally in the state and local mental health provider is to make sure we have programs in place."
Bennett says the $150 million complex would employ 750 people. The proposal hinges on legislative approval.