NEW HAVEN, Ind. (WANE) -- For the first time publicly, in an exclusive interview with WANE 15, New Haven Mayor Steve McMichael shared his thoughts on, and fought back criticism of, the plans to bring a casino from southern Indiana to the southeast corner of U.S. 30 and I-469. McMichael said he was approached in May by Full House Resorts about bringing the casino to New Haven and was skeptical. "The easy thing for me to do would have been to say, 'no,'" he told WANE 15. But once he began to examine the data, specifically from a 2022 study by the Indiana University School of Public Health and the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling, he felt the risks were outweighed by the rewards. He then began a fact-finding tour of 12 of the 13 Indiana Gaming Commission-regulated casinos and their communities, paying for his own transportation. "I haven't been able to talk to any community in Indiana that has a casino that hasn't said they're good partners, they are the first to step up whenever a natural disaster or other things happen, and not single one has said they wish they would go away," he reported. He rebuffed the idea that a casino unfairly targets the working poor, who might be more enticed to gamble away non-discretionary income, and added Indiana casinos are populated mostly with people who have household incomes over $100,000 a year. He said several people who have criticized in public admitted to him privately of going to a casino themselves. They just don't want one here, which McMichael said is counterproductive. "That money is going to a tribal casino in Michigan instead of being able to help with the issues that are already in our communities." A spokesperson for the Coalition for a Better Allen County has said they would join WANE 15 Tuesday. See their comments in our 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts. The mayor is still taking public comments about the casino. For those wanting to reach out, email [email protected].