Cleveland Casino Rocks In First Month Of Operation

The state of Ohio has been yearning for casino gambling for decades, and never was that more apparent than in the first month of operation for the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland. The gaming facility, owned by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, is exceeding attendance expectations.

In the first month, over 500,000 people have come through the doors of the new casino. The excitement is widespread, with some gamblers coming from other states just to get a glimpse of the future of the entertainment business in Ohio.

"I lived here for 27 years before I moved to Michigan last summer," said Randy Darrow. "All the time I lived here, my friends and I always voted for the gaming referendums when they came up, and none passed until now. I couldn't resist coming back and going to the casino with my friends. It's everything I expected it would be."

The casino, which is expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the state in tax revenue in the coming years, was also considered to be a major tool in bringing business into the surrounding area. That has been the case, with local businesses thriving in just one month of operation.

The Horseshoe has partnered with local hotels, and has booked an average of 160 rooms a night for its visitors. Restaurants and shops have benefited as well, with some restaurants reporting their highest averages in years over the past month.

"The whole city has just been invigorated," said Harvey Leyva. "Everywhere you go, people are talking about the casino. It's been great for everyone, and I expect that will continue to be the case, even as the newness wears off."

Cleveland was one of four city's that was awarded a casino when voters approved a gambling measure several years ago. Gilbert and his company, Rock Gaming, have the rights to the Cleveland and Cincinnati casinos. Penn National Gaming will be in charge of operating the Columbus and Toledo gaming facilities..

June 15, 2012
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

Nevada Casinos Continue Gambling Revenue Climb In April
Oxford Casino Wraps Up First Week With Excited Maine Residents
Iowa Using Gambling Winnings To Make Back Child Support Payments
Genting Makes Push Into East Coast With Miami, New York Casinos
Maryland Residents Excited About Maryland Live Casino Opening