BEST CASINO, BEST CASINO SLOTS, BEST CASINO TABLE GAMES, BEST CASINO POKER, BEST CASINO DINING
Horseshoe Casino
777 Casino Center Dr., Hammond, Ind., 866.711.SHOE (7463), horseshoehammond.com
SECOND PLACE
Four Winds Casino Resort
11111 Wilson Rd., New Buffalo, MI, 866.4WINDS1 / 866.494.6371, fourwindscasino.com
THIRD PLACE
Blue Chip
777 Blue Chip Dr., Michigan City, Ind., 219.879-7711 or 888.879.7711
BEST CASINO SLOTS
2. Four Winds
3. Blue Chip
BEST CASINO TABLE GAMES
2. Four Winds
3. Blue Chip
BEST CASINO POKER
2. Four Winds
3. Blue Chip
BEST CASINO DINING
2. The Buffet, Four Winds
3. Copper Rock Steakhouse, Four Winds
Lavish Las Vegas-style glitz, glamour, gaming and great food - Horseshoe Casino Hammond has it all, and much more. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, this 350,000-square foot facility welcomed more than six million visitors last year.
That popularity is well reflected in Horseshoe garnering first place in an amazing five categories in the 2010 "Best Of..." contest. These honors include Best Casino, Best Casino Slots, Best Casino Table Games, Best Poker and Best Casino Dining.
"We are honored by the recognition we have received. We always strive to provide an outstanding, entertaining experience for our guests," says Dan Nita, Senior Vice President & General Manager Horseshoe Casino. "We have 2,300 employees who thrive on delivering great customer service."
Horseshoe Casino is a "great brand and strong market," Nita says. "We also benefit from being from one of the largest entertainment companies, Harrah's Entertainment Inc."
In fact, that connection with Harrah's allows patrons to earn comps that they can use at other Harrah facilities, including Las Vegas, New Orleans and even London, England.
A $ 500 million expansion completed in 2008 more than doubled the size of the main floor casino. Crystal chandeliers by the dozens - each more than 8 feet in diameter -- sparkle down from the casino's 21-foot-high ceiling. Tones of copper, chocolate and trademark "Horseshoe gold" blend with intricate moldings, ornate sconces and hand-plastered walls.
The expansion also added a 2,500-seat entertainment facility, The Venue.
Billed as the place "where entertainment knows no bounds," The Venue is a versatile multipurpose entertainment facility that provides space for top-name performers, theater productions, sporting events and banquets. The four-level facility features seats that can be retracted for concerts where standing room is traditional. The Venue also has six VIP boxes that feature couches, plasma televisions and full food and beverage service.
With more than 3,000 slots, Horseshoe Casino provides gaming opportunities for those who like to play the same slots during each visit and those who want to experience the newest offerings, Nita says.
"We have slots you can play for one penny up to $1,000 and everywhere in between. There is truly something for everyone," he says. One of Horseshoe's exclusives are the as the Binionaire progressives.
Horseshoe Casino Hammond has one of the biggest table games businesses in the U.S. with more than 120 tables with great variety, Nita says. "We also have the biggest limits and attract business from all over the United States and around the world."
The High-Limit Table Room, for example, provides the perfect setting where gamblers can play three-card poker, mini-baccarat and blackjack.
Le Cheng, an Asian-themed gambling area, whose name means City of Happiness, features tables for baccarat, poker, blackjack and pai gow tiles. Inspired by the romance of the Chinese Silk Road, this area hasexquisite detail and appropriate feng shui. The Asian Gaming Area welcomes players into their own resplendent niche of the casino. Spacious and elegant, it features an oversized display of a water cascade on the beautiful etched art glass work within a classic rose wood-stained cabinet. Crafted in China, all the wood in the Asian Gaming and Foo Noodle Bar are made with rich rose wood color.
Although all casinos feature the same table games, what sets Horseshoe apart, he says, are the quality of the employees who provide the finest service to patrons.
"We make sure to recruit and hire the best," Nita says. "We receive hundreds of customer surveys. We give bonuses for employees getting more A's. The last four quarters, we've been successful at this."
Poker reigns supreme at Horseshoe Casino Hammond because the casino is part of the World Series of Poker.
"Having that brand allows local players to qualify for the competition. It's a nice hook," Nita says.
"Honoring Horseshoe's storied past as the original poker joint, our casino also features the single largest poker room in the Midwest. With 34 tournament-caliber tables and a high-stakes area called Benny's Back Room, this is poker the way it's supposed to be."
Benny's Back Room is named for Benny Binion, the founder of the original Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas.
And when it's time to dine, make reservations at The Best Casino Dining spot in the region - Jack Binion's Steakhouse.
"Jack Binion's is the second of the pillars of our brand," Nita says. This legendary steak house has been a Chicago favorite with its exquisite service and attention to detail.
"It's tough in Chicago to be the top. There are lots of great places to dine. We're really proud of our reputation for providing an upscale experience rivaling the downtown's finest steakhouses," he says.
The reason for the enduring popularity of Jack Binion's Steak House is quite simple, Nita says - magnificent cuts and house specialties served with impeccable presentation. Each piece is hand selected and trimmed to the exacting standards of certified artisans. From Wagyu beef to our Nebraska Dry-Aged Beef, there just is no finer steak available anywhere.
"But our commitment to the absolute finest ingredients doesn't end there. All of our seafood is completely sustainable and we use only organic vegetables grown locally and harvested at the peak of perfection," Nita says.
And whatever you do, leave room for an abundant array of decadent desserts created by the restaurant's classically trained pastry chef. From irresistible pound cake sprinkled with fresh berries to ultra rich cheesecake and the famous key lime pie, this is a celebration for the senses you won't soon forget.
Jack Binion's Steak House received the prestigious Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 13 years running and was voted Best Casino Fine Dining by Midwest Gaming and Travel readers.
Other features at Horseshoe Casino Hammond include:
• Vintage 51, a wine bar that offers wine by the glass, unique cocktails and micro-brew beers. It's just steps from the casino floor.
• Push, a feature bar right in the center of the action, where patrons are always surrounded by 360 degrees of excitement.
• Village Square Buffet for a culinary experience
• JB's Gourmet Sandwiches for everything from breakfast to sandwiches
• Benny's Pub and Eatery a 54-seat pub where guests can watch the game on many plasma screen TVs.
Horseshoe is easily accessible for residents of Indiana and Illinois as well as out-of-town visitors at 777 Casino Center Dr., next to the sparkling Hammond Marina. Free shuttle bus and limo service is available from Chicago and the south suburbs.
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