BALTIMORE (AP) - The opening of Baltimore's first casino highlights a nationwide trend of casinos moving from traditional gambling destinations to other cities.
The Horseshoe Casino in downtown Baltimore opened its doors Tuesday night. A spokesman for an agency representing the casino said it hosted more than 15,000 guests in its first 12 hours.
Gambling experts say rust-belt towns like Philadelphia, Cleveland and now Baltimore have become desirable casino locations, especially as gambling destinations like Atlantic City continue to plunge into economic decline.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called Horseshoe a "springboard" for tourism and development in downtown Baltimore. The casino will employ roughly 2,400 people. Half of those will be from Baltimore.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation President Gary Loveman said Horseshoe is an urban casino meant to "meld into the rest of the city."
