In Indiana, Tropicana Evansville recently announced it will officially open its new million, 75,000 square foot, land-based casino at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 20, 2017. In preparation for the move, the state’s first riverboat casino will cease operations on October 16. The new casino will be located on a site between Tropicana’s existing hotels, Tropicana Evansville Hotel and the LeMerigot Hotel.
Tropicana Evansville General Manager John Chaszar said, “It’s appropriate, us being the first casino in the state of Indiana, and it’s appropriate for us to be the first ones to take advantage of the new land-based legislation. When it first came to Evansville, it was a new milestone for the city of Evansville and we’re really looking forward to this next era of entertainment.”
In early 2015, then-Governor Mike Pence and state legislators passed a law allowing Indiana’s 10 riverboat casinos to move onto land. Construction on the new casino began in the first quarter of 2016. It’s expected to create about 100 jobs.
Tropicana Evansville’s 2,700-passenger riverboat casino opened as Casino Aztar in 1995, in the 310-foot riverboat City of Evansville, a replica of the historic Robert E. Lee racing side-wheel steamboat. That boat was sold by its former owners. The current riverboat will be removed and a historic LST 325 World War II vessel will take its place on the Ohio River, with Tropicana contributing $1 million toward the project.
The new 45,000 square foot gaming floor will include more than 1,100 slots and 45 table games. The new facility also will include two new restaurants, the 421 Lounge, the Tap House featuring 36 beers and a new 24-hour deli.
