Gambling could hurt 22,000 people

Latest details on Columbus casino plans
Thursday, January 21, 2010 3:04 AM

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
RELATED STORIES

* Casino plan moving along
* Gambling could hurt 22,000 people

Officials from Penn National Gaming Inc. spoke yesterday at a Columbus Metropolitan Club luncheon and offered some new details about their casino plans in Columbus:

• The casino will carry Penn National's "Hollywood" brand name and include 3,000 slot machines, a poker room and 85 tables for other games.

• The facility also will include a steakhouse, a buffet restaurant, a food court, an entertainment lounge, a sports bar and a VIP lounge. The 123-acre development likely will include other features, such as a hotel. In response to a question, President Tim Wilmott said the company has no interest in adding horse racing to its Columbus casino.

• Penn National will seek a 24-hour liquor license but will not seek to overturn Ohio's smoking ban.

• Plans call for groundbreaking late this year and the doors to open in late 2012.

• Penn National expects its casino to create 3,500 jobs during construction and 2,000 permanent jobs once the casino opens.

• Casino workers and local managers will be hired starting in late 2011, one year before opening.

• Wilmott said 90 percent of the jobs will go to local residents. The company plans to work with the local NAACP chapter to ensure racial diversity in its hiring.

• In about two weeks, Penn National will launch a Web site with information for potential vendors seeking business with the company.