HAMMOND | Two years after a groundbreaking with a shovel, the red carpet was rolled out for celebrities, dignitaries and gamblers alike for Friday's grand opening of the new 350,000-square-foot, $500 million expansion of Horseshoe Casino.

Photos from Horseshoe Casino's opening night.

Many of the visitors were on hand for singer Bette Midler's performance at Horseshoe's new, state-of-the-art concert and event area, The Venue. Chicagoan Mary Jazdziejewski already had been to Horseshoe during its unofficial opening last week, but she came back to hit the slots and catch the Midler show.

"I'm one of the original customers -- I paid for this place," Jazdziejewski joked.

She said the casino was glamourous, exciting and the perfect environment for a Midler concert.

"I love her," she said. "I'm so happy to see her."

Jazdziejewski was joined by her husband, Tony, who confessed to tearing up whenever he hears Midler's hit "Wind Beneath My Wings."

"I'll be crying," he said.

Hammond's Donna Crnkovic was enjoying Horseshoe's Village Square Buffet, which seats 650 people.

"Horseshoe always has the best buffet," she said. "And I've been to all the boats."

Crnkovic was impressed with the size and the ambience of the new Horseshoe.

"I love the way it's laid out," she said. "It's like a little Las Vegas in Hammond."

Joining local residents like Crnkovic were celebrities such as John Scurti, who plays Kenny "Lou" Shea in television's firehouse drama "Rescue Me."

When asked which firefighter in the fictional New York firehouse would be the biggest Midler fan, he didn't hesitate when he named Dennis Leary's character.

"He's a huge Bette Midler fan," Scurti said with a wink. "He's a big fan of French pop music."

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. was excited to be at the opening, and he said it obvious as "you looked around" that no expense was spared on the vessel.

"Bette Midler's playing in Hammond, Ind. -- I'm tickled pink as the mayor. A lot of positive things are happening in Hammond right now," he said.

McDermott was even more excited about the casino's second night -- tonight -- when the Smashing Pumpkins performs.

"I'm a big fan, I'll have a lot of my buddies here with me," he said.

Charlie Blum, CEO and talent buyer for Star Plaza Theatre, said the casino is "absolutely gorgeous" and a welcome addition to the Chicago area.

"We wish them the best of luck, and we look forward to the Star Plaza Theatre sitting side-by-side with another world-class facility," Blum said.