Churchill Downs Picked to Lead Casino Project in Terre Haute

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 11/29/2021

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Churchill Downs Picked to Lead

A long-standing casino project is back underway again in Terre Haute in western Indiana. This comes after the announcement that Churchill Downs has been picked to head up the project following legal issues with the previous operator. A vote took place last week with members of the Indiana Gaming Commission voting in favor of Churchill Downs.

The project has been planned for some time, but problems occurred when an investigation was launched into top executives of the previous operator heading up the project. These included investigations into allegations of both criminal and financial misconduct. The previous operator was awarded the license for the casino project back in 2019.

Plans for an Exciting Casino Resort

Now that an operator has been selected to replace the previous one, the project in Terre Haute can get underway once again. Officials from Churchill Downs have outlined a range of exciting plans and expect to get the casino up and running within sixteen months.

The project that has been outlined by Churchill Downs will be a $240 million one, and it includes a new casino along with a hotel that spans ten floors and boasts 125 rooms. There will also be a rooftop lounge at the hotel so visitors and guests can enjoy relaxing with a drink while taking in the views.

CEO Bill Carstanjen addressed the state commission and stated that, unlike other applicants, Churchill Downs was not looking at undertaking multiple projects or operating casinos in other areas. He said that this meant they could really focus on the Terre Haute project without being distracted by other commitments and operations. Carstanjen said:

This is a market that we’ve been after for a while. We’re going to be absolutely focused on going to the maximum extent we can.

Once the casino project has been completed, it will become the 13th casino location in the state. In addition, the area will become the first new community to get a casino in more than 13 years.

Important to Move Forward with the Project

Greg Small, the executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, said that it was very important for the project to now move forward following the lengthy delays that have been experienced since the previous operator was awarded the contract in 2019.

He said,

This project has been pending for too long, and too little has been done to fully capture the benefits to the state or local community.

Problems with the project erupted in 2020 after an investigation was launched into Spectacle Entertainment and its CEO, Rod Ratcliff. The company was forced to give up the ownership of the project to Greg Gibson, a businessman in Terre Haute. However, this then failed to get off the ground.

With the casino project now underway once again, it is hoped that it will provide multiple benefits to the local community and to the state. These include the creation of more jobs for local people, the provision of entertainment for locals and visitors, and a boost in tourism.