The grand opening of the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana is on schedule for April

The grand opening of the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana is expected to be announced soon. The Indian Gaming commission has lifted a temporary hold on issuing the casino license, and construction of the casino is in the final stage.

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana will be a $300 million casino with a Hard Rock Cafe, Hard Rock Live concert center and a 200-room hotel.

The Gary casino will be operated by Hard Rock International owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

In 2019 Indiana passed a new gaming law that authorized construction of a new casino in Gary. Spectacle Entertainment, who had purchased the two Majestic Star casino boats in Buffington Harbor in March 2019, was granted permission to move the Majestic Star casino licenses to a new casino to be constructed on land in Gary, Indiana.

On Dec 17, 2019 the Indiana Gaming Commission issued a final authorization to Spectacle Entertainment to replace its two Majestic Star Casino boats with a land casino in Gary at 29th Avenue and Burr Street. The commission also approved Hard Rock International as a minority owner.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Hard Rock Casino Gary was held January 9, 2020. 

In December 2020 the Indiana Gaming Commission suspended the gaming license of Rod Ratcliff, the former CEO and major shareholder of Spectacle Entertainment. The action stopped the licensing process for the Hard Rock and delayed the opening date. The issue was resolved in March 2021 and the Indiana Gaming Commission lifted its hold for the opening date.

         Location

          The site of Hard Rock Casino Gary is a 27-acre parcel on the southside of the Borman Expressway at Burr Street and 29th Avenue.

         Timeline

           Construction of the Hard Rock Casino Gary will have two phases:

• PHASE ONE
  The first phase of construction will build the 200,000-square-foot casino including a Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live concert venue. The groundbreaking was January 9, 2020 and the target date for opening is Spring 2021.

• PHASE TWO
  The second phase of construction will add a 200-room hotel and parking structure opening in 2022-2023.

  Gaming

  $300 million casino
  200,000-square-foot gaming floor

  1,650 slot machines
  80 table games
  Sportsbook and bar

  Restaurants

  Hard Rock Cafe

  Five other restaurants – to be announced

  Hard Rock LiveTM

  Hard Rock-themed entertainment and concert venue with 2,000-seats.

  Rock ShopTM

  Hard Rock-themed retail store with clothing, accessories, and music-related gifts.