LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. -- Monday marks many big changes in Lawrenceburg as the new and larger Hollywood Casino officially replaces the old Argosy Casino.
For starters, the new Hollywood Casino means 250 more jobs in southeastern Indiana.
The Hollywood Casino boat is almost three times larger than the old Argosy boat.
Hollywood will be able to comfortably handle as many as 8,000 gambling guests at once, compared to only 3,800 on the old Argosy.
It's taken the better part of a year to build all the additional facilities from parking, to maintenance and food and beverage facilities.
All this comes several months after the old Argosy was forced to lay off some workers when the economy was at its lowest point, and it faced increased competition from newer casinos in the Indianapolis area.
Hollywood Casino owners are hoping that by getting the new casino opened now, it will be ready to cash in as more people get jobs and have money to spend.
Many people have already gotten a first hand close-up look at the Hollywood Casino when it had what some in the business consider a "soft opening" over the weekend.
The new casino is getting a new address too. It's street is being renamed Hollywood Blvd from Argosy Parkway.
