The public opening included remarks from: CEO of CDI Bill Carstanjen, General Manager of Terre Haute Casino Resort Mike Rich, Indiana State Representative Bob Heaton, Mayor of Terre Haute Brandon Sakbun, Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer and Wilhelm Construction President Phil Kenney. Ceremonial festivities continued with a commemorative ribbon cutting, a $10,000 charitable donation to St. Benedict Soup Kitchen, live entertainment and promotional activations. Over 2,100 guests awaited the official opening and entered the new entertainment venue in the first hour of official operation.

“Today’s grand opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort is a time to reflect on the promises Churchill Downs made, kept and delivered for this community,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “An occasion like today feels like the end of all the effort to successfully get us to this point, but it’s actually just the beginning of what this project can do for Vigo County and the State of Indiana.”

“This premier gaming facility will make it possible to welcome visitors from across the Midwest, the nation and the world here to Terre Haute,” said Mayor of Terre Haute, Brandon Sakbun. “The opportunity this creates for the people of our community is a true testament to the leaders who have worked on this project for years.”

Terre Haute Casino Resort marks the Company’s first entertainment venue in Indiana and CDI’s expansion into its 14th state. The Company is scheduled to officially open the property’s remaining amenities which include a 122-room luxury hotel, rooftop lounge and coffee shop to the public on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

The development of Terre Haute Casino Resort generated nearly 1,000 construction jobs and approximately 550 permanent full-time and part-time jobs. CDI officially broke ground on the entertainment venue in June 2022 with construction management partner, Wilhelm Construction.