$400 million Ohio casino opens for business

Columbus, OH, United States (4E) – The $400 million Las Vegas-style casino, the third one in central Ohio, was officially opened to the public last Monday and welcomed more than 17,000 visitors.

Oscar nominee Ann-Margret, star of such movies as Bye Bye Birdie and Carnal Knowledge, attended the ribbon-cutting VIP event. One of her Bob Mackie dresses is on displayed at the casino.

The 475,000 square feet Hollywood Casino, considered the largest in the state, is filled with Hollywood items including art-deco, huge film posters and giant video screens showing movie trailers.

Owned by Penn National Gaming, it features 3,000 slot machines, more than 70 tables for blackjack, three card poker, roulette and other games, and 30 poker tables. There’s also a steakhouse, buffet, grill, bar, stage and event center situated in one floor.

Located at 200 Georgesville Road, Columbus, casino parking is free and it is open 24 hours, seven days a week.

According to the owner, the casino has hired around 2,000 employees, 20 percent from the west side.

The casino is expected to attract more than 3 million visitors a year.

The community has different reactions on the casino’s opening, with others hoping that the new casino will revamp the west side and offer more jobs and good business while some people are skeptical because of concerns about prostitution and other crimes.

Hollywood Columbus is the third casino to be established in Ohio since voters approved on four casinos in 2009.

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