Hard Rock’s Gary Casino set for May 14 opening

The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana will open to the public at 5 p.m. May 14, following a guitar smashing ceremony that will mark the completion of the $300 million gaming facility located adjacent to the Borman Expressway at Burr Street in Gary.

Inside the 200,000-square foot building guests will find 1,637 slot machines, 80 table games, a sports book, five restaurants including a Hard Rock Cafe, multiple bars and lounges, a 1,954-capacity Hard Rock Live entertainment venue and music memorabilia as far as the eye can see.

"We are extremely excited about the future in Indiana," said Jon Lucas, chief operating officer of Hard Rock International. "There certainly have been a few speed bumps along the way, but we believe they're behind us now."

Lucas told the Indiana Gaming Commission Tuesday the grand opening events on May 14 will be part of a week-long celebration of the first land-based casino in Northwest Indiana, including an invite-only friends and family event May 11 and a VIP opening May 13.

He did not specify when the Majestic Star Casinos in Gary will permanently close their doors. A 2019 state law requires the Majestic Star to close when Hard Rock opens, in part because the statute also requires all Majestic Star employees be offered jobs at the new casino.

Prior to the announcement, the Indiana Gaming Commission board of directors ratified orders by commission staff calling for Rod Ratcliff, the former chief executive officer and chair of Spectacle Entertainment, to be divested from any ownership in entities associated with licensee Majestic Star Casinos and that he permanently relinquish his gaming license in Indiana.

The IGC board also approved a $530,000 settlement with Spectacle Entertainment for taking more than 50 days to follow the regulating agency’s order to remove Ratcliff and replace him with a new manager.

Hard Rock and Spectacle are partners in the $300 million Gary project and an upcoming casino project to be located in Terre Haute, called Lucy Luck.