In Indiana and Caesars Entertainment Corporation reportedly inaugurated its $90 million Caesars Southern Indiana venue yesterday after closing down its adjacent Horseshoe Southern Indiana riverboat predecessor.

According to a Thursday report from The Courier-Journal newspaper, the land-based facility’s debut was made possible by the passage of legislation in 2015 that permits Indiana riverboat casinos to relocate onto dry ground so long as they do not extensively stray from their existing footprints.

Forerunner finale:

The newspaper reported that Caesars Entertainment Corporation had run the Horseshoe Southern Indiana from within the Glory of Rome vessel since 1998 but held an official closing party on Monday before relocating the casino’s entire collection of 1,300 slots into a new 110,000 sq ft onshore facility subsequently christened Caesars Southern Indiana.

Extensive entertainment:

Brad Seigel, Vice-President and General Manager for the one-story Caesars Southern Indiana, reportedly told the newspaper that his Las Vegas-style venue now also has a portfolio of some 70 gaming tables offering poker, craps and blackjack alongside a sportsbook. He moreover declared that the Harrison County property features new restaurants, a VIP lounge, a tavern and separate non-smoking, high-limit and private gaming areas to make it ‘the very best spot in all hospitality, gaming, restaurants [and] everything else.’

Floating fees:

Caesars spokesperson, Jenny Howard, reportedly told The Courier-Journal that the onshore move will also eliminate costs associated with running a riverboat casino. She purportedly detailed that the Glory of Rome had been required to maintain a full maritime crew and take annual two-hour cruises but is to now be sold before being pulled from its existing berth and transported to a new location.

Competition concerns:

Caesars Southern Indiana sits alongside the Ohio River approximately 14 miles from downtown Louisville, Kentucky, while the newspaper reported that its predecessor had been suffering following the 2018 opening of that city’s slots-laden Derby City Gaming venue. The Courier-Journal explained that the move onto dry land should help the Indiana property to recover after it recorded handle of only $1.4 million last month with its taxable gross revenues dropping to an almost record low of $84,000.