BY JAMES PRICHARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BRIDGEPORT, Ind. - With Friday's opening of what's touted as the world's largest riverboat casino, Caesars Indiana began learning whether its $300 million gamble will pay off.
Customers waiting for the first gambling sessions open to the public said they were curious about the company's massive Glory of Rome riverboat, but were mostly interested in pocketing some extra cash.
"I'm out here to win a little money, that's why I'm out here" said Robert Caldwell, who operates a janitorial business in Louisville, Ky., about 10 miles up the Ohio River from Bridgeport.
While Mr. Caldwell said he planned to play the $1 slot machines, his wife, Stacey, said she would head for the blackjack tables. "I'm hoping to walk away with some money," said Mrs. Caldwell, as she and her husband queued up in the pavilion next to the boat to buy their $9 boarding tickets. She said the most she had ever won playing blackjack was $3,500 during an evening at Casino Aztar in Evansville.
At a table near the pavilion's Roman Court restaurant, Marvin and Kathy Dourm of Greenville and Mrs. Dourm's cousin, Debbie Bishop of Floyds Knobs, said they had visited Indiana's other eight floating casinos and had to see the newest one.
"We've known that this has been coming for more than a year, and we wanted to come on the first day," said Mrs. Bishop, who works for Ameritech as a supply attendant.
Mr. Dourm, who is retired from the Navy, vowed not to spend more than $100 during his first night on board the casino.
"I just came down to have fun," he said.
Before Caesars Indiana opened, the closest casino was a two-hour drive for the Dourms. It took them only 15 minutes to get to Bridgeport, but Mrs. Dourm insisted that doesn't mean they'll be gambling more. "It's for entertainment," said Mrs. Dourm. "We have a specific amount (of money to wager), and when that's gone, then we leave." Caesars Indiana officials said 1,119 people boarded the Glory of Rome for its first two-hour gaming session, which started at 5 p.m. The four-deck riverboat has a capacity of 5,000 passengers and crew members, though one of the decks was closed Friday while the company worked on a generator problem that will keep the vessel moored for a few days.
The deck's closure has temporarily reduced the boat's capacity to 3,000 passengers and crew.
Beginning today, the sessions will start at 11 a.m. Additional sessions will board at two-hour intervals with the last set for 1 a.m.
The Indiana Gaming Commission issued Caesars Indiana its operating license on Monday, despite an electrical problem that affected the casino's computer system. The problem was resolved before the first session.
The ornate riverboat is 452 feet long and features more than 2,800 slot machines and 140 gaming tables. The vessel and pavilion are part of a $300 million complex that, within a year, will also include a 500-room hotel and parking garage.
