Dressed in a tuxedo, Detroit businessman and developer Dan Gilbert and a group of Ohio VIPs opened the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cleveland Monday night.
The first night was a smash: the crowd numbered 4,000 by the time the doors opened to the public shortly before 9:30 p.m. and was edging toward the 5,000 cap that the casino had imposed to keep the setting comfortable.
An invited crowd of 1,000 VIPS mingled at a reception under a tent on Public Square outside the casino two hours before the opening.
After sunset, a three-dimensional video lighted the facade of the former Higbee's store, paying tribute to the casino, Higbee's, Cleveland and the city's attractions. The video will be replayed at 8:45 and 10:30 tonight and Wednesday night.
Another casino, not owned by Gilbert will open in Toledo May 29. Detroit officials fear that casino will lure gamblers -- and tax revnue -- from Detroit's three casinos, which will hurt the city's already endangered budget.
