The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has donated $500,000 to its local community’s school system. The donation was recently handed over to Gary Community School Corporation in a special presentation ceremony.
Florida-based hospitality and gambling operator Hard Rock opened its Northern Indiana venue in May 2022. It is located near the city of Gary, around 40 miles southeast of Chicago, Illinois.
The city has not had the best reputation in recent years, with high crime and low incomes seeing it consistently appearing on lists of America’s worst places to live. After the industrial decline in the American rust belt, the town’s prosperity and population dramatically fell off. However, the opening of the brand new Hard Rock Casino has seen some revitalization in the city.
The business has donated millions to local programs since opening, including $500,000 donated to schools last year and $3 million raised for regeneration projects in downtown Gary.
“Strengthening Gary has a positive impact on the entire region,” said Hard Rock Northern Indiana president Matt Schuffert.
“Investing in Gary schools builds a strong foundation for the young people in our community, because they are our future.”
The Donation
Teaching staff and administration workers from Gary Community School Corporation visited the Hard Rock Casino on January 30, where they received a ceremonial guitar-shaped check to celebrate the donation. Local schools Superintendent Yvonne Stokes was in attendance, along with casino President Schuffert.
“I always think it’s great when the community gives back. These are our students, these are our future leaders,” Stokes said, speaking to the Northwest Indiana Times.
The money will be spent on upgrading equipment at several school libraries, gymnasiums, and media centers. Main classrooms will also receive some new furnishings, including bookcases.
In May 2024, Hard Rock Northern Indiana made a similar $500,000 donation to Lake Ridge Schools, another group of educational institutions in the Gary area.
The City & The Casino
The $300 million Hard Rock Northern Indiana sits on the east side of the Gary city limits, close to the Illinois border and the city of Chicago.
It is the most profitable casino in Indiana by some distance, paying around $300 million in taxes in 2023.
As Hard Rock is a privately owned tribal casino operator, its casinos’ revenues aren’t disclosed publicly. Although other factors go into taxable casino income, at $300 million in taxes, we can make an estimation of Hard Rock Northern Indiana’s revenue. With Indiana’s gambling tax rate of 15%, that would work out to around $2 billion dollars.
Compare that with the declining fortunes of Gary in recent years, and you can see why its school system is in need of donations from the casino they allowed into town.
In 1960, Gary had 178,000 residents and was a thriving industrial town. However, with the decline of American manufacturing from the 1980s, the town’s income and population fell off a cliff. That led to mass poverty, urban decline, and high crime. At one point, Gary was the per capita murder capital of the U.S.
Today, there are around 67,000 people in Gary, a fall of 61% from its peak. It’s also far less dangerous. In 2023, it wasn’t even in the top 10 for crimes in the state, let alone the country.
The $3 million donated by Hard Rock in March 2024, and matched by a city fundraising drive, went towards regenerating or demolishing dozens of abandoned buildings in downtown Gary which the city mayor said has since significantly reduced crime.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
