Terre Haute Casino: Indiana Settles with Lucy Luck, But Full House Files New Lawsuit

The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) announced Tuesday that it has reached a settlement with the former permission holder for the long-awaited Terre Haute casino. And while commissioners and faculty are eager to go frontward with the new licensee, another legal take exception at present lingers o'er the project.

In short, the IGC approved a resolution with Lucy Luck to remnant its invoke of the commission’s conclusion against them in June. The military commission also formally sanctioned awarding a new permission to Churchill Downs Incorporated, which plans to grow a $240 1000000 casino there.

But before Tuesday’s votes, IGC Executive Director Greg Small brought upwardly the causa and dissent filed latterly by Full House Resorts.

The charge officially received the documents on late Mon afternoon. Small said there was some treatment almost pulling the Churchill Downs certify vote from Tuesday’s meeting, but the military commission faculty opted against that.

Full House also submitted a bid for the Terre Haute casino, as did Hard Rock International and Premier Gaming Group. After hearing to the quartet companies’ presentations at the Nov. 17 meeting, the direction voted to extinguish Hard Rock’s and Premier from consideration. After last pitches from both finalists, the commissioners went into executive session.

Upon their return, a balloting for Full House was rejected, and the commissioners then afterward voted unanimously for John Churchill Downs to catch the permit formerly it became available.

Full House Makes Several Accusations inward Lawsuit

In the lawsuit, filed Friday inward Indianapolis, the Las Vegas-based society claims the Duke of Marlborough Downs’ practical application should follow disqualified. That’s because officials with the Louisville-based fellowship said they were open up to placing the casino elsewhere in or nigh Terre Haute. Full House states that the laws regarding casino applications require companies to heel the street computer address for the proposed casino.

Churchill Downs was the only if bidder to offer edifice the gambling casino on the western position of Terre Haute. In the complaint, Full House notes that the offered site would sit next to both the unexampled Vigo County gaol and a sewage treatment plant.

In addition, the society claims the IGC violated state opened meetings laws when it went into executive director session during the coming together and did non feature any public deliberate prior to the vote. Also, Full House noted inward the suit that the only member of Churchill’s Hoosier State law of nature firmly who tended to(p) the encounter was former IGC Executive Director Sara Gonso Tait. She left wing the commissioning after the coating process for the Terre Haute gambling casino was restarted.

The lawsuit seeks to void both votes and cube the IGC from awarding the certify to Winston Churchill Downs.

Role of Former IGC Executive Director Questioned

In a split up filing, Full House also appealed the IGC’s conclusion before the Office of Administrative Law Proceedings (OLAP). The company brought up the same arguments as it did inwards the royal court case, but it added more entropy almost its claims regarding Tait.

The invoke said that her appearance at the auditory sense “certainly provided ‘help’ or ‘aid’ to Churchill,” disregardless of whether it was intentional or if she was compensated.

“At a minimum, the Commission’s former executive director’s front at the encounter lent illegal help to single applicant and agency that the Commission’s conclusion was not ‘otherwise inwards accordance with law,'” Full House’s invoke stated.

Full House said it would demand uncovering to check if Tait helped or advised Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill Downs beyond attending the meeting.

Indiana Gaming Officials Counter at Meeting

Like to the highest degree agencies, the IGC has a insurance against commenting on pending litigation. But Small told the commissioners he matte up some response was necessary.

He said that Full House’s claims were “meritless,” and that the Nov. 17 group meeting was held in line with Indiana law. Small also uttered dashing hopes that Full House chose effectual process that could farther postponement a casino that Vigo County voters sanctioned more than ii years ago.

Small wasn’t alone inwards commenting on the lawsuits, and some commissioners were regular to a greater extent pointed in their remarks.

Chairman Michael McMains moved at the Nov. 17 encounter to grant the permit to Full House. On Tuesday, he said that may make been a mistake.

When it comes to offering a licence to a gaming company, McMains said Robert Indiana jurisprudence requires the military commission to take an applicant’s integrity, reputation, and behavior.

Frankly, this action of filing these complaints can only if follow viewed by me as work grapes,” the chairman said. “I suppose it’s vindictive. It’s malicious. I reckon it’s frivolous. I’m humiliated for Full House for having through with(p) this.”

McMains even out went so far as quizzical what the society hoped it would accomplish, because he doubted the IGC would alter its mind.

Lucy Luck Appeal Settled, Company Refunded $5 Million

So, while a young legal threat has emerged, the charge did ending a six-month standoff with Lucy Luck. The IGC inward June voted non to renew the company’s certify after it had failed to make water any onward motion on edifice a casino, and did non have paint leaders positions filled.

Greg Gibson, a Terre Haute man of affairs and owner of Lucy Luck, appealed the decision. The OLAP issued a remain in the case. That prevented the IGC from directly awarding the certify at its group meeting lowest month.

The commissioning and Lucy Luck discussed subsidence the case, and while Small thought the IGC would have got prevailed, he added that the briny care was preventing additional delays on the Terre Haute casino.

As constituent of the settlement with Lucy Luck, the charge agreed to repayment the $5 1000000 casino permit fee to Gibson’s company. The commission’s not necessarily sounding at it as missed money as Winston Churchill Downs will compensate the say $5 gazillion for its license.

That, of course, is pending the latest sound hurdle.