Full House Resorts has dropped its lawsuit against the Indiana Gaming Commission. The casino operator had previously claimed that the decision, made on November 17, to award Churchill Downs a Vigo County casino license should be invalidated.
However, proceedings can now go ahead as planned after Full House revoked its claims.
Chairman of the Indiana Gaming Commission, Mike McMains, was positive when speaking to the Tribune Star. He said the commission is "pleased that Full House has dismissed these actions and that Vigo County and the greater community of west-central Indiana will soon benefit from this significant economic development project."
In Full House’s letter withdrawing its legal claim, the organization’s attorney, Paul Vink of Bose McKinney & Evans, stated: “Full House never intended for such action to delay economic development or be construed as malicious; rather, Full House sought clarity regarding the matters addressed in the filings through the only statutory, legal, and transparent means available."
The Lawsuit, which was filed in Indianapolis’ Marion County Superior Court 2, suggested that the decision to award Churchill Downs a casino license should be void because the state's Open Door Law, which says: “A governing body may not conduct an executive session during a meeting,” was broken.
Specifically, Full House stated: “Without any public debate, comment, discussion or explanation, the Commission voted to deny Full House’s application and grant Churchill’s application.”
Moreover, Full House claimed that its proposal was simply the superior offering. Indeed, the company suggested that Churchill Downs' proposal was unviable, highlighting its proximity to a freeway, a county jail and a sewage treatment site.
Following this decision, Churchill Downs can move forward with the development of the Queen of Terre Haute, which features a 125-room hotel, 1,000 slot machines, 50 table games and a Twinspires branded sportsbook.
