Las Vegas-style gaming comes to Columbus on Columbus Day

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The glitz, glamour and thrill of Hollywood have come to Columbus's West Side. Today, Penn National Gaming, Inc. rolled out the red carpet for the opening of Hollywood Casino Columbus, the area's first Las Vegas-style casino. Penn National President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Wilmott officially opened the casino at a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion James "Buster" Douglas and Actress Ann-Margret.

"I would like to officially welcome players to the region's largest and newest gaming destination," Wilmott said. "We're thrilled for guests from throughout Ohio and beyond to experience Hollywood's unique style of premier gaming, dining and entertainment in a luxurious and modern atmosphere.

"Many thanks go to the state of Ohio and the Ohio Casino Control Commission for all of their efforts toward making this day possible. I'm proud of the partnerships we've built with the city of Columbus and Franklin County which are resulting in new jobs and tax revenues that are helping to revitalize this area and improve the economy on the West Side and throughout the region," Wilmott said.

Located just off I-270 at the Georgesville and Broad Street exits, the $400 million entertainment destination employs 2,000 permanent full- and part-time team members, in addition to the 3,500 construction jobs created during its development.

Casino Design

The impressive design of Hollywood Casino Columbus captures guests even before setting foot on the casino floor. A five million-gallon reflecting pool flanked by a nearly 50-foot high, V-shaped media wall marks the casino entrance, setting the tone for the Hollywood glamour prevalent throughout the interior. Once in the casino, the gaming floor and surrounding dining areas transport guests to the Golden Age of Hollywood, with elegant chandeliers, art deco columns and posters of movie classics. A giant video ribbon uses the latest technology to play movie trailers, vintage commercials and animation. Flat panel monitors and video trees interspersed among slots and table games allow guests to enjoy entertainment and live sports programming as they play.

"This facility represents true glamour and sophistication," said Hollywood Casino Columbus General Manager Ameet Patel. "From the decor to the service to the vast gaming and entertainment offerings, we seamlessly blend vintage style with modern convenience to offer guests a memorable red carpet environment that transcends the Hollywood name."

Exclusive Slot & Video Machines

Hollywood Casino Columbus' expansive gaming floor is home to more than 3,000 slot machines. New pop culture-themed games including The Hangover, Sex & the City, Lord of the Rings and Tarzan mix with classics like Wheel of Fortune, Wizard of Oz and Monopoly to offer guests a variety of options. Hollywood is also the only casino in the region to offer the new Michael Jackson slot machine.

Slot lovers will enjoy a wide variety of game denominations ranging from penny to $100 machines, including some that offer a jackpot of more than $100,000. Video poker machines range from a penny to $5, with quarter and dollar progressives. Hollywood will be the first casino to offer video poker in Columbus, with a variety of machines on the casino floor as well as at the bar in o.h., Hollywood's upscale sports and entertainment lounge.

Hollywood's slot machines are serviced by a dedicated team of slot attendants, allowing for quick response time to jackpots. All slot machine players will receive priority red carpet service on the casino floor.

Table Games & Poker

With 78 tables of black jack, craps, roulette and more, Hollywood Columbus boasts the most table games of any casino in the state. Novelty games include Mini Baccarat, Big 6 Wheel, Crazy 4 Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em, Mississippi Stud, Let it Ride Bonus and Three-Card Poker (a progressive). Adding to the premier gaming environment, select blackjack tables offer a Royal Match 21 side bet while craps tables have a Fire Bet with a 999-1 payout.

An exclusive high limit table games area is adjacent to the high limit slots area and open 24 hours a day. Special side bets are available on select high limit games.

Hollywood's poker room features 30 tables offering variations of Texas Hold 'em and Pot Limit Omaha. The room is designed for maximum guest comfort, with rich woods, player drink holders at every table and sports programming on more than 25 LCD screens.

Marquee Rewards

Hollywood's multi-tiered Marquee Rewards program takes players' gaming experience to a whole new level. Using one card, guests can earn points for playing at three Hollywood Casinos in the region--Columbus, Toledo and Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Points accrue toward a variety of rewards, including meals at casino restaurants and merchandise at the Studio Store. Hollywood's cashier cage and players services area is combined into a single location on the casino floor, making it easy for guests to address both financial and guest service transactions.

Dining & Retail

Dining options at Hollywood Casino Columbus range from laid-back casual to first-class refined. All four dining choices focus on fresh, local ingredients, but add their own distinct flair to make their flavors stand apart.

At the 150-seat Final Cut Steak & Seafood, guests will dine in elegance next to light-filled displays showcasing gowns, tuxedos and jewels worn by stars of Hollywood past. The menu--created by Head Chef Eric Jones, previously the Executive Sous Chef at Cameron Mitchell's American Bistro--features only prime cut steaks, a rarity in the market. Specialty dishes including pastas, fresh seafood delivered daily, and desserts made from scratch balance out the restaurant's offerings. An intimate cocktail lounge boasts a custom martini menu and more than 150 varieties of wine. Final Cut also offers a private dining room which can accommodate as many as 24 guests.

Named after the popular Ohio chant, sports bar and entertainment lounge o.h. is located in the heart of the gaming action. More than 300 seats offer great views of the casino floor, plus the best seat in town for watching sports. Craft beers and specialty drinks will complement a made-from-scratch menu featuring a selection of sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and burgers. Tailgate specials will be offered during games. On weekends and select weekdays, the venue's stage will feature live entertainment.

The casino's 300-seat Epic Buffet is unparalleled in the market; combining made-to-order selections with fresh buffet options to offer guests a variety of choices. Featured stations include carving/rotisserie, homemade pizza and Italian, a grill with steak, veggies and seafood, and Asian. Joining these are offerings of various soups, salads and homemade desserts. Private dining rooms seat up to 100 people and can be rented for receptions and community events.

Guests can dine 24/7 on freshly made burgers, sandwiches and milkshakes at Take 2 Grill. The restaurant also features breakfast and Starbucks Coffee for early risers, as well as a selection of pastries and desserts.

Studio Store satisfies guests' retail needs with a variety of Hollywood Casino merchandise as well as local souvenirs, sunglasses, jewelry and handbags.

Events

Hollywood's lavishly decorated Event Center can accommodate up to 1,000 guests for cocktails and hors d'oeurves, and as many as 660 guests for a seated dinner. It's the only event location in the market that offers gaming entertainment.

Getting There

Hollywood Casino Columbus is conveniently located just off of I-270, minutes from downtown Columbus. Upon arrival, guests have the option to valet park at the porte-cochere or take advantage of the casino parking garage. The casino has more than 3,700 complimentary parking spots.