Horseshoe Baltimore Casino Celebrating 1 Year Of High Stakes Action
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- One year of high stakes action in Baltimore. It's the first anniversary of the Horseshoe Casino.
Amy Yensi with more on the big events for the anniversary.
The casino has made a lot of money, and officials are hoping it's even more successful by this time next year.
It's been exactly one year since the star-studded opening of the Horseshoe Baltimore Casino. The $442 million project set the expectations high from the start. Twelve months later:
"Everything from 1,800 jobs--over 60 percent from Baltimore City--contributed in our first year over $120 million in taxes to city and state. We've had 10,000 hotel room nights. It's been a great year in Baltimore," said Noah Hirsch, VP marketing, Horseshoe Baltimore Casino.
To mark the first anniversary, hundreds pack the casino's Harbor Room for a poker tournament.
It hasn't been a clean sweep. Maryland Live Casino consistently outperforms the Horseshoe in revenue.
The recent unrest also dealing a band hand. The casino had to close early to comply with the city curfew.
None of that matters to Justin Liberto. The casino's defending champion says the Horseshoe is a winner.
"This casino offers a wide variety of things outside of just the gaming. There's many bars here. There's live music seven days a week," said Liberto.
While the Horseshoe may have fallen short of some predictions made a year ago, casino managers say it's a winner if you look at the big picture and its impact on the community--like its $87 million contribution to the state's educational trust fund and casino chefs cooking up a feast for first responders at the local firehouse.
"It just shows how much everybody appreciates us," said Relana Allen, paramedic.
The casino is also planning promotions throughout the year to ensure there are more anniversaries to come.
The official first year anniversary celebration is this Saturday, August 29. Someone will walk away with over $100,000 in cash.
The casino has attracted more than 5 million people from around the country since its opening.