Hollywood Casino turns on glitz for trial run

By IGNAZIO MESSINA

Toledo Blade

TOLEDO

Hollywood Casino Toledo upped the ante Monday — turning on all the glitz and glamour, partially as a trial run before next week’s grand opening, but also as a chance for reporters to check out the new facility and report back to potential patrons so they come with their wallets.

Casino General Manager Richard St. Jean opened the media day tour with a cheer from the dozens of dealers practicing on the casino’s tables.

“As you can see, it’s a phenomenal building with all the glitz and glamour we have promised,” St. Jean said.

The casino has 2,002 electronic machines, and table games that include blackjack, roulette, mini-baccarat, and a Big Six wheel, as well as six poker variations and a 20-table poker room.

The slots stretch as far as the eye can see on the massive casino floor.

“Our payouts are going to be very comparable to the Detroit area; we have a $250,000 prize. We want the guests to have fun while they are here,” said Brian Hopkins, slot manager.

The slot machines are coded with candlelight color on top of each so gamblers can easily be directed to either the penny slots or the high-stakes area that cost $100 a spin.

Jason Birney, vice president of marketing, said workers would continue to add finishing touches this week, such as tinting exterior windows overlooking the Maumee River inside the Final Cut Steak & Seafood — one of five restaurants and lounges in the new building.

“In there are a number of different collectable items with local flair,” Birney said. “We have one of Katie Holmes’ dresses from one of her photo shoots, we have one of Ann-Margaret’s dresses, we have a tuxedo from Elvis.”

Reporters from Detroit to Columbus and beyond got their first look Monday morning at the new Hollywood Casino Toledo gambling floor, restaurants, and lounges, all with ornate pillars and flashy television screens. The sprawling gambling floor was populated by dealers and scantily clad cocktail waitresses, who practiced carrying drinks. Those employees are officially called “model beverage servers,” casino officials said.

“They are not just cocktail waitresses,” said casino spokesman John McNamara.

“We want them to do more than just serve you drinks. It is really more of an entertainment position that ties into the whole Hollywood theme.”

The $320 million casino opens to the public next Tuesday at 2 p.m. in a much- anticipated grand opening. The casino will be the state’s second gambling facility to open this month.

Table minimums begin at $5 and increase or decrease based on the time of day, the number of players at each table, and the traffic flow. There will be an eight-table high limit area that will include seven blackjack tables and one minibaccarat table.

The minimum bet there will be $50 and the maximum will be $2,000.