Cleveland gets first roll of casino dice in Ohio

12/25/2011
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — Ohio will get its first taste of casino gambling when the first of four casinos approved by voters opens in March in blue-collar Cleveland.

The Horseshoe Casino Cleveland will operate initially on four floors of a renovated department store overlooking Public Square in the heart of downtown.

The casino will have more than 2,000 slot machines, dozens of table games and a 30-table poker room.

Instead of offering in-house live entertainment, the casino will bet on drawing visitors who are also interested in other Cleveland attractions. Those include its sports teams, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and its busy theater scene.

Casino manager Marcus Glover says the casino will provide first-class amenities by connecting with downtown Cleveland attractions.

Opponents fear a casino will lead to increased gambling-related problems.