Then, the gaming commission would seek bids for the new casino.
First, the measure must pass a countywide referendum in November. However, it’s not guaranteed Spectacle would retain that license. The same law that allowed Spectacle to move inland also allowed Terre Haute to receive the second Majestic Star license. The two companies also plan to compete for a casino in Terre Haute, Ind., according to the release. Spectacle’s plans with Hard Rock do not end, necessarily, in Gary. “We’re confident this $400 million investment will serve as a significant catalyst for the continued economic revitalization of northwest Indiana and the City of Gary,” Spectacle Entertainment CEO Rod Ratcliff said in the release.Ĭompany officials told the IGC back in March they hope to open the land-based casino by 2022. The project is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and about 2,000 casino jobs. Spectacle will also pay a $20 million relocation fee to the state. However, it noted the project would include a Hard Rock Café, a Hard Rock Live concert venue, and several other restaurants and bars on a more than 40-acre plot less than a half hour away from Chicago. The release did not mention a hotel as part of the project. Horseshoe Hammond, Indiana’s largest casino and located about six miles west of Gary, features 2,173 slots and 150 table games. The Majestic Star’s boats currently combine to hold 1,620 slot machines and 63 table games. The Hard Rock Casino will have up to 2,764 gaming positions, according to a news release.