CASINO TOUR | Inside Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

AUSTINTOWN — The finishing touches are underway the media gets a first look inside the new Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

During a media tour, employees could be seen testing VLT and being trained on their new work responsibilities. All the while, construction work was continuing.

Mark Loewe, an official at Penn National Gaming Inc., said of the construction work, "Everybody's just been committed to getting it done."

"We're actually training [employees] downstairs right now," for the early racino rewards cards, said Marketing Director Scott Frost.

There are six dining outlets inside the racino.

The food court on the gaming floor has price ranges from $10 to $15 to a meal for those over 21 years of age. The more upscale Skybox Sports Bar is open to families with entree options at $20-$25.

No free alcoholic drinks will be offered on the gaming floor because of Ohio state law, General Manager Mike Galle said.

Officials at the racino expect to see an average of 5,000 people here a day and 1 million in a year.

Approximately 400 people were hired for the racino with an expected 50 more to be hired for racing, which will start Nov. 24.

The racino opens in one week on Sept. 17.

Video from the tour can be found on The Vindicator's Facebook page.