COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Slot machines are almost fully
installed and table games have been delivered to Ohio’s second casino,
scheduled to open in late May in Toledo.
That was among updates
heard by Ohio regulators Wednesday in Columbus as the state prepares for
the openings of four voter-approved casinos in the next year or so.
Jeffrey
Goodman, the vice president of casino operations for Hollywood Casino
Toledo, told the Ohio Casino Control Commission that table games should
be set up by mid-month, and that slots would be ready for regulators to
test around then, too.
More than 510 table and poker dealers have been trained, Goodman said, and
surveillance equipment is now installed.
The
casino is aiming to hold its grand opening May 29, but that date is
pending approval from commission. Cleveland’s casino is slated to open
about two weeks earlier. Voters in 2009 also approved casinos in
Cincinnati and Columbus.
The commission on Wednesday reviewed the final steps leading up to the openings.
Each
casino must do a test run several days before their grand openings, so
that state regulators can get a simulated look at what a typical day
might be like at the facilities.
Invited guests to the so-called
controlled demonstrations could play the slots and table games and eat
at the restaurants at the casinos. The winners would get to keep their
earnings. The casinos would still have to pay the state 33 percent of
gross earnings — defined as total amount wagered, minus winnings. And
the rest of the casino’s net revenue from the demonstration would go to
charity, said Matt Schuler, the commission’s executive director.
Background checks and licensing of employees and vendors is on track to meet the
opening dates, Schuler said.
The
commission on Wednesday approved 861 licenses for casino employees in
Toledo and Cleveland. So far, they’ve signed off on almost 1,140
licenses. And on Thursday, a casino employee in Cleveland was expected
to be presented with the first state-issued license.
The state is also ramping up its efforts to tackle potential gambling addictions in
the state.
Laura
Clemens, the commission’s point person on problem gambling, told the
panel that 200 additional social workers, counselors and others have now
received training to treat those who are having gambling issues or
addictions.
Commissioners were updated on law enforcement and security at the casinos.
Two
to four investigators from the Ohio attorney general’s office will be
roaming the casinos at any given time of day. The gambling agents, who
will be dressed in business-casual clothing and carrying concealed guns,
will keep an eye out for potential cheating and other problems. They’ll
have arresting authority for gambling-related crimes.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.