Toledo casino breaks ground

TOLEDO, Ohio (WUPW) - Penn National Gaming and community leaders broke ground on Hollywood Casino Toledo, the first of four casinos that will soon open throughout the state.

Early on, there was talk of the $250 million casino being finished at the end of 2012, but the goal is to finish in early 2012 because there's a push to start competing with the Detroit casino market right away.

There was also some pride in being first out of the four casinos in Ohio to start construction. Ground was broken just before noon on Thursday (MORE: Vegas on the Maumee, Toledo Free Press / FOX Toledo media partner).

"It feels great because that means there will be more people put back to work and we can have one more thing we can say Toledo is proud of," said Ohio Rep. Edna Brown.

Eric Schippers of Penn National Gaming said the Hollywood Casino Toledo on Miami Street at the Toledo-Rossford border will be leading the way when it comes to construction (MORE: Ground broken for Hollywood Casino - Toledo, Sentinel-Tribune, FOX Toledo media partner).

"We stood on this site and we said we are going to move heaven and Earth to make sure we build this project and do it in a timely way," Schippers said.

With a location right off of Interstate-75, there's hope the casino will attract in-towners, as well as out-of-towners.

"The location is great for us - great visibility, great access," Schippers said.

Thursday's groundbreaking means the start of 2,000 construction jobs, and in the future another 1,200 permanent casino jobs.

Schippers said activity will start before the end of the month.

Penn National, based in Wyomissing, Pa., has rights to casinos planned in Toledo and Columbus. Voters in 2009 approved casinos in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

In other Ohio casino news Thursday, Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment Inc. signed an initial agreement with a company headed by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert to develop and operate casinos in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

The nonbinding agreement between Harrah's and Detroit-based Rock Gaming LLC was announced Thursday. It would create a joint venture, with Harrah's managing the casinos and making a minority investment. Rock Gaming would have majority ownership of the partnership.

Rock spokeswoman Jennifer Kulczycki said definitive agreements are expected this fall. The venture expects to invest more than $1 billion total to develop the casinos.

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FOX Toledo News reporter Allison Brown and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

AUG. 11, 2010

Penn National Gaming, Toledo and community leaders will break ground Thursday morning on the new Hollywood Toledo Casino, which will be located on the Toledo-Rossford border.

The ground breaking ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Friday's groundbreaking will be the first for the four Ohio casinos.

The $250 million Hollywood Casino Toledo is scheduled to open in early 2012.

The casino will feature structured parking, 2,000 slot machines, 60 game tables, poker room, food and drinks, and an entertainment lounge.

The project is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs during construction and more than a 1,000 permanent jobs once the casino opens, Penn National said.

In addition to Toledo's casino, Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland will have casinos.