Ohio’s second casino is all about convenience

Associated Press

TOLEDO

Ohio’s latest casino isn’t billing itself as a destination resort. It’s focusing on convenience.

The Hollywood Casino in Toledo that will open in just over a week doesn’t have a hotel or spa, and it isn’t within walking distance of any attractions.

But, there is easy access from Interstate 75, free garage parking and a single floor devoted to slot machines, table games and restaurants. Casino officials made sure to point out the free parking perk several times during a sneak preview of the $320 million casino on Monday.

The casino will open next Tuesday, just two weeks after the state’s first casino opened to big crowds in downtown Cleveland.

While the Toledo casino will be in direct competition with three casinos just an hour’s drive to the north in Detroit, Hollywood Casino expects most of its customers to come from within a short distance of Toledo with a few sprinkled in from northern Ohio and southeast Michigan, said Jason Birney, the casino’s vice president of marketing.

Attracting tour busses won’t be a big priority either.

“We’re not trying to sell ourselves to that market,” he said.

Although it’s just two hours away from the Cleveland casino, Birney said he thinks there is room for both. “We’re a completely separate product,” he said.

The casino in Toledo is designed to look like a grand art deco movie house inside and out. Movie posters and photos of Hollywood greats adorn the walls above the brightly lit slot machines.

Giant billboards advertising new movies overlook one of the gambling areas. And at the center of the main floor, sits a circular bat with plush seating and big video screens all the way around for watching sports. There’s a stage for live music near the bar.

The movie theme continues inside the casino’s high-end steakhouse where a dress worn by actress Ann-Margret and a tuxedo that belonged to Elvis Presley. There’s even a nod to Toledo native Katie Holmes with a display of one of her dresses.

Because it’s a new building, unlike the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland that was built in a renovated department store, there are high ceilings and everything is on one floor — much like what is found in Las Vegas, Birney said.