When Cleveland's Horseshoe Casino officially opens its doors Monday night at 9:30, patrons will see glittering chandeliers, elegant marble and brass bars, a sea of blackjack tables, and thousands of glowing slot machines. Workmen are still putting the finishing touches to fixtures and furniture, dealers are honing up on their games, and security officers are reviewing safety procedures.
Jeff Cohen of Rock Gaming has helped lead the Horseshoe's design and construction. He says tomorrow they'll have what's called a "controlled opening".
"There'll be 1800 people through here, which will give all the staff and team members an opportunity to kinda do a dry run."
Hopes are high that the $350 million casino will deliver on its economic potential. Cohen declined to estimate just how many people will come to the Horseshoe when it opens Monday night, but says he expects that the casino will be "at capacity throughout the night". The facility can hold up to 11,000.
The Horseshoe is one of four casinos slated to open in Ohio. Voters approved their creation through a constitutional amendment in 2009.