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Show-stopping Hollywood arrives in the Valley
By Kalea Hall
and ROBERT CONNELLY
AUSTINTOWN
“Welcome to Hollywood.”
That’s how VIP guests were welcomed Monday to the VIP event at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
“This is when the excitement starts,” said Mike Galle, general manager of the Austintown racino. “Having people come in through the doors for the first time — that is what really gets my adrenaline running and [that of] a lot of my team members.”
Civic and government leaders, as well as Valley residents, came out in the thousands for the VIP event.
All of the night’s proceeds, primarily from beverages and video lottery terminal revenue, will be evenly distributed among Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and Down Syndrome Association of the Valley — after the state takes its standard 33 percent.
Food at the event was complimentary.
The amount raised for each of the charities will be announced during a check presentation ceremony Wednesday morning at the racino.
Guests were greeted by showgirls, and Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Nicholson and Gene Simmons look-alikes.
This event was preparation for the team members hired by Penn National for the $250 million racino, which includes 850 VLTs, a 1-mile thoroughbred racetrack, multiple dining outlets and other entertainment. The official opening will be at noon Wednesday. Before the VIP event, the racino allowed its team members, construction workers and friends and families to play the machines from 12 to 3:30 p.m. Monday.
There will be a few touch-ups on the inside of the building, and then the racino is ready to go, Galle said.
Austintown Township Trustee Jim Davis was among those at the VIP event. Davis has been a heavy supporter of the racino’s coming to the area from the beginning. Monday was the first time for him to go inside and see it all in action.
“It’s unbelievable,” Davis said. “I have goosebumps. It’s a very exciting opportunity for Austintown. It’s a very exciting night for Austintown.”
Also in attendance were members of the Ohio Lottery Commission, overseeing the event while the facility continues to operate under its temporary operating license. Connie Miller, director of operations with the lottery commission, said they expect to award the full operating license to Hollywood Gaming this afternoon.
“We don’t anticipate any problems,” Miller said.
As of Monday evening, there had been 18 jackpots processed and seven more were still being processed, Miller said. The top three of those jackpots were $4,500, $3,500 and $3,200, Miller noted.
The first jackpot at the new racino was an $1,800 win on a $5-per-play Lucky Sevens machine, Hollywood Gaming director of marketing Scott Frost said.
Those winners would have 25 percent of their winnings taken out by the federal government, 4 percent taken by the state if more than $1,200, and then their names are run through a state system to see if they owe any money to the state or in child support. After all of that, the winner then can take a cash payout or a check.
Michael Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest, said the food bank will use its portion of the proceeds for a backpack program.
“We felt that expanding our backpack program was a top priority because there’s a lot of children coming to school Monday morning hungry and not prepared to learn,” he said.
That program provides about 1,000 backpacks every Friday to students in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. He said officials from Hollywood Gaming approached Second Harvest and “had all the right questions.”
“This type of a donation clearly indicates that their intent is to be a good corporate citizen. That’s important,” Iberis said.
Linda Macala of the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau also was at the event.
“It’s a first-class facility,” Macala said. “It’s got to give the area a huge boost. It just adds another element to [The Valley].”
Danny and Karen O’Horo of Boardman were excited to get a firsthand look at the racino.
“I love horses,” Danny said. “She likes the slots.”