Indiana Gaming Commission's head resigns amidst period of intense conflict

Indiana Gaming Commission Executive Director Sara Gonso Tait is resigning after 10 years, six of them at the helm. IGC General Counsel Greg Smalls is expected to step in to fill the void.

The regulator will have her last day Sept. 10 and news were announced by Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office in a news release Friday, August 202.

“I leave the Indiana Gaming Commission having accomplished significant goals and confident that my tenure served the agency, industry and state well,” said Gonso Tait to IndyStar.

Throughout Gonso Tait’s period at the helm, the state entered into sports betting and three new casinos were launched, as well as a new gaming compact was negotiated, which allowed the Four Winds Casino to come to South Bend.

“As executive director, Sara demonstrated a strategic vision for the Indiana Gaming Commission that delivered strong results in economic development while maintaining the highest level of integrity,” said Gov. Holcomb in the press release.

But Gonso Tait’s departure arrives at a moment of intense conflict between the IGC and Spectacle Entertainment, a company that lobbied in 2019 for permission to move two casino licenses to more lucrative locations.

One of its executives and a former state senator have been indicted for campaign finance violations, and a former casino executive pleaded guilty to making an illegal campaign contribution. These allegations led the IGC to deny a license renewal for the Terre Haute project and a ban against Spectacle’s former head Rod Ratcliff from participating in the industry within the state.

As a result, a group of Spectacle’s investors have filed a lawsuit against the commission. Moreover, a group of state lawmakers have also written a letter calling on the commission to reverse the new investor disclosure rules, which require anyone linked to casinos investments to reveal their personal and financial histories to the commission.

On August 18, the IGC took a step into resolving the ongoing conflict by approving a deal under which Hard Rock will assume at least 85% ownership of the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary from Spectacle.

Hard Rock has been operating the casino since it opened in May, and on the importance of the agreement, chief operating officer Jon Lucas said: “We believe in the project and feel good about being in this community and in this jurisdiction. This was the way to resolve it.”

Gonso Tait has denied political pressure in her decision to step down, having told previously cited news outlet Indy Star that she is “absolutely” leaving on her own terms and expects to explore new opportunities in the private sector.