The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency on Wednesday gave approval for the opening of the state's fourth casino — the Rocky Gap Casino Resort — in a rural area near Cumberland.
Agency director Stephen Martino signed the operations license Wednesday.
"After a thorough review of the casino, the [agency] is satisfied that the Rocky Gap facility is properly prepared to open to the public," Martino said in a statement.
The casino opened immediately.
"There's a couple hundred people in there. They were pressing up against the ropes," said general manager Scott Just.
The $35 million casino, constructed in a building that was once the lakeside golf resort's conference center, will be open around the clock.
The developer, Evitts Resort — a subsidiary of Minnesota-based Lakes Entertainment — will operate 558 slot machines plus 10 table games at the casino. The table games will include blackjack, roulette, craps, Mississippi stud poker and three-card poker.
For years, the Rocky Gap resort, off Interstate 68, was operated in a public-private partnership.
Last year, Evitts closed a deal to acquire Rocky Gap from the Maryland Economic Development Corp. The project had cost the state millions of dollars, and it had been a struggle to pay off the debt owed to bondholders.
"It was a burden on the taxpayers," said Stu Czapski, executive director of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce. "Seeing the finished product now, they're doing it right. They've been very good to the community. They've been hiring locals."
About 350 workers are employed.
"It's a beautiful place," Czapski said. "I'm not a casino aficionado. But they've kept a natural feel for the lodge. It was built to have that rustic lodge look to blend in with the lake and state park."
Market conditions forced Evitts to scale down its plans from 850 slot machines to about 558.
"I definitely was disappointed that a $65 million project got scaled back," said Mike McKay, president of the Board of Allegany County Commissioners. "But being a business owner myself, it just makes common sense. Instead of 'Build it and they will come,' it's 'Build it and let's make it profitable.' And then they can build more."
Said McKay: "Getting Rocky Gap into the private sector is going to be the deciding factor if Rocky Gap makes it or not. And I'm 100 percent of the belief they can make it."
McKay said he believes the casino could create market conditions for new hotels to open in the region.
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