Little Gem

How to play Little Gem

We think education is key,” Vote Yes for Allen County Casino spokesperson Tim Haffner told WPTA. “Remove some of the mystery and some of the misinformation that, for various reasons, seems to recirculate. Our goal is to make sure people are fully informed, and when they vote in November, can make an informed decision.”

On Nov. 3, 2026, voters in Allen County will be asked, “Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Allen County?” If a simple majority votes “yes,” Allen County would be able to compete for a commercial casino license by fielding bids and presenting the project to the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC).

Vote Yes for Allen County Casino claims a casino in Fort Wayne would provide tax relief for residents and funds for infrastructure, public safety, and schools. It would also help small businesses by bringing in new visitors to the city.

How to play Little Gem

Early Monday, Sept. 14, police tracked phones linked to the men to BB’s B.F.E. Bar & Grill in Latham, roughly 25 miles northwest of Decatur.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office responded to check the venue and confirmed a break-in: power to the building had been cut, an ATM opened, and multiple video gaming terminals smashed and emptied of cash, according to affidavits.

Heckman and Ziemer were arrested later that morning. Subsequent searches uncovered burglary tools, gaming-machine cash boxes, a stolen Hyundai that had allegedly been repainted from red to black, and other stolen equipment, according to police.

What is Little Gem?

The city council legalised VGTs in its latest budget that took effect in January. Mayor Brandon Johnson opposed the move but was overruled by a council majority. Johnson and his colleagues have fought over the issue all year, which is still largely unresolved.

The mayor has not opined this summer, at least publicly, on if he believes Bally’s will open the casino in the first quarter of 2027. However, Johnson indicated in March that his administration is committed to projects such as Bally’s Chicago that foster economic development, while creating new jobs for numerous neighborhoods across the city.

“We appreciate Bally’s partnership and the thousands of construction workers helping bring Bally’s Chicago Casino to life – a major investment in our city’s future,” Johnson wrote in a social media post on X.