Since its inauguration on April 3, 2024, the Terre Haute Casino Resort has markedly influenced the local economy and job market, becoming a cornerstone of community and economic development in Vigo County, Indiana. A year into its operations, the casino has exceeded revenue expectations and played a pivotal role in community funding and job creation.  Stimulating local business, however, has yet to pan out, as getting tourists to the city remains a challenge.

Economic contributions and growth:

In February alone, the casino’s gaming revenue surpassed $10 million, doubling the earnings of other regional establishments like the French Lick Resort in southern Indiana. This influx of revenue is substantially benefiting local government projects and infrastructure developments. According to former Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett, the casino has initiated a positive cycle of investment and return for the community, stating, “Here’s a company that’s coming in and not ask for any incentives and investing their own money and then having to give some of it back, and then giving it some of it back on their own, that we’re gonna be able to do some really great things for the citizens of our community.”

The casino currently employs around 550 individuals, the majority of whom are Terre Haute residents, with two-thirds remaining since the casino’s opening day. Austin Muchemore, the general manager at the Terre Haute Casino Resort, highlighted the career progression opportunities the casino has provided, noting, “The best part of my job at this point is seeing some of these people who are from this area, who have never worked in a casino before, started a little less than a year ago, who have now moved up already and have been promoted to leadership positions.” These positions offer competitive wages, with starting rates between $15 and $17 an hour and tipped positions averaging over $20 an hour, in a county where the average hourly wage is around $24.

Community and infrastructure development:

The casino’s economic impact extends beyond direct employment. Terre Haute and Vigo County are leveraging the tax revenue for significant public projects. Current Mayor Brandon Sakbun reported that the city receives 25 percent of the monthly gaming revenue plus 40 percent of supplemental taxes, noting, “Those numbers are a little bit higher than anticipated, so we’ll definitely meet our budget requirements, fill the cash surplus and then review those plans for 2026.”

A foundation established by the casino has raised over $2.5 million to sponsor local projects, although funds are yet to be disbursed as the foundation finalizes its board and legal preparations. According to Indiana Public Media, Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer assured that the funds would soon benefit the community, stating, “It did take quite some time to get board members on board and involved, and then also for them to hire their own legal counsel as a part of the foundation and get projects moving.”

While the casino itself houses five restaurants and six bars, local leaders are brainstorming ways to integrate casino tourists more broadly into the city’s economy. Mayor Sakbun and General Manager Muchemore are exploring promotional strategies to attract casino guests to local attractions like Hulman Links golf course, J. Ford Steak House, and the Verve Bar and Lounge.

The challenge of drawing tourists further into Terre Haute remains, as noted by Sydney Harmon, a barista at Federal Coffee, who mentioned the distance from the casino to downtown affects visitor flow to local businesses during the day.