Column: Hard Rock Casino moves line for opening date to mid-April

Mid-April is now the targeted opening date for Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, delayed in part due to recently filed paperwork by the Indiana Gaming Commission.

The state agency filed a formal complaint for disciplinary action against Rod Ratcliff, a principal owner of the Majestic Star casinos in Gary. Hopefully the issue doesn’t further delay the casino’s opening, which is pending a resolution that seems to have long odds at this point.

“The Commission has no choice but to pursue revocation of (Ratcliff’s) license,” the complaint states.

“Based on what the Commission knows so far, (Ratcliff’s) conduct presents an unprecedented set of negative circumstances involving an Indiana Gaming Commission licensee,” the commission’s conclusion states. “Based on the information in this Complaint, (Ratcliff) does not have the high standards of character and reputation required of a licensee in Indiana.”

The commission insists that this set of negative circumstances involving Ratcliff first gets addressed, and rectified, before the new $300 million Hard Rock gaming complex is opened to the public. According to Jon Lucas, chief operating officer of Hard Rock International, his company remains committed to the successful completion of the lucrative project.

“We continue to work with the Indiana Gaming Commission and our partners at Spectacle Entertainment to bring resolution to the outstanding issues identified in the Indiana Gaming Commission’s December business meeting,” Lucas said in a statement.

On Wednesday I visited both casino sites: Majestic Star at Buffington Harbor, used in part these days to host a weekday “dealer school” for new Hard Rock employees; and the new land-based site located just off Interstate 80/94 at the Burr Street exit in Gary. It’s hard to miss if you look to the south while driving along the Borman Expressway.

The massive structure — which will feature a 200,000-square-foot entertainment complex, 1,600 slot machines and 80 table games — stands out in a downtrodden area that has experienced too many bad beats through the decades. The gaming complex is currently fenced off to the public as construction continues.

“Most of the construction is completed. It looks beautiful,” said Dawn Reynolds-Pettit, the casino’s vice president of human resources.

I’m looking forward to visiting this new casino when it opens, especially its sportsbook area and Hard Rock Café, the signature restaurant. The casino’s location and easy access will attract tens of thousands of gamblers, travelers and curious motorists who can already view the casino from the Borman.

The facility looks very impressive from the outside. It will eventually employ more than 2,100 workers and recruitment is underway for various jobs: restaurant managers, chefs, cooks, bartenders, servers and cashiers, as well as positions in security, finance, marketing, and guest services. (Applications are accepted at www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.)

“We need a lot of talent,” Reynolds-Pettit told me. “The April opening gives us more breathing room for additional training, hiring and recruiting.”

In December, I shadowed a paid training class of new craps dealers during their 10-week training program inside the pavilion of Majestic Star. That class of “band members” will graduate soon and move on to learn other casino games, possibly baccarat or carnival games such as poker. These continuing classes run Monday through Friday in three shifts.

“Place your bet!” one of the blackjack trainees said in a simulated game over the nonstop sound of stacking casino chips.

About one fourth of the dealers who were initially hired late last year are no longer in the class for various reasons. As I wrote in my previous column, it can be a daunting challenge for off-the-street hopefuls.

“As you can see, the level of play has progressed since you were last here,” said Thomas Gutierrez, director of table games operations. “These dealers will be ready to go once the Hard Rock opens.”

April 15 is the new date to open, pending resolution of the issues with Ratcliff, whose gaming license was suspended, and appealed in court, in December.

“We’re kind of sitting on the sideline with that issue,” Reynolds-Pettit said. “We’re keeping everybody busy until the green light goes on.”

The gaming commission’s complaint, filed by attorney Dustin J. Moloy, states that Ratcliff’s failure to provide truthful information to investigators is a direct regulatory violation of Indiana law.

“Aside from the specific violation raised herein, the Commission investigation has identified several additional matters which could be, at a minimum, regulatory violations. (Ratcliff) has thwarted the Commission’s attempts to thoroughly investigate these matters by his obstruction of the investigation,” the complaint states.

It’s unclear how this issue will be resolved, but there’s no doubt this new casino will open. There’s too much at stake for multiple deep-pocketed parties. Every day it’s not open is another day it’s not catering to gamblers converging at the “Crossroads of America,” Indiana’s official motto. In our area, casino billboards are as common as senior citizens sitting at slot machines.

The gaming industry has been part of our entertainment culture since the 1990s. Since then, local gamblers have dreamed about a more convenient land-based casino. It will soon be a reality at the intersection of Burr Street and 29th Avenue, where a gas station and truck stop are the current images of commerce. This will all change in mid-April, or maybe later.

In my next column in this series, I will talk with a few residents of this area to see how they feel about a busy new casino in their backyards.