Warning supporters that commercial gambling expansion will “hurt people,” U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) is calling on voters to reject casino ballot referendums across three Northeast Indiana counties on Nov. 3.

Stutzman, who is seeking his fourth term in Congress, is up for reelection. While he is expected to easily defeat his Democratic challenger, nonprofit founder Kelly Thompson, Stutzman remains on the campaign trail.

With casinos a major topic across the more than 3,200-square-mile 3rd District, Stutzman has made his opposition to gambling clear.

“Casinos win when our neighbors lose,” the congressman said.

On Nov. 3, voters in Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties will face three separate referendums asking whether a casino can operate in their county. If a county approves the measure by a simple majority, casino developers would be permitted to submit competitive bids to the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) for that location.

House Bill 1038, signed by Gov. Mike Braun (R) in March, authorized the IGC to issue only one casino license through a competitive bid. The winning applicant would need to make a one-time $150 million payment to the state and commit to a minimum investment of $500 million.

Despite big promises from pro-casino groups like “Vote Yes for Allen County Casino” claiming a casino would create thousands of jobs and more than $100 million in new annual tax revenue, Stutzman says gambling is a bad bet.

“[Casinos] create a new burden for low-income households, the elderly on fixed incomes, and local government services. On top of that, many fail to realize that research has shown rapid-play gambling can be as addictive as cocaine or heroin,” Stutzman said.

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