Blue Chip Casino Opens $130 Million Hotel

MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana -- As reported by The Indianapolis Star: "The opening of a new 22-story hotel has Blue Chip casino hoping for bigger crowds of gamblers than it has seen since a casino opened
Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City  nearby in Michigan more than a year ago.

"The casino plans a grand opening Thursday for its $130 million hotel in its most visible effort to compete with the Four Winds Casino Resort that opened about 10 miles away in August 2007 and the $485 million gambling barge at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond that opened last summer.

"The Blue Chip hotel, designed in shades of blue to mimic nearby Lake Michigan, includes the 15,000-square-foot Stardust event center, the 10,000-square foot Spa Blu and new bars and restaurants.

"David Strow, spokesman for owner Boyd Gaming Corp., said the luxury spa is unique for casinos in the Chicago area.

"...Blue Chip's business has been battered since the opening of the Four Winds casino, which is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Blue Chip saw its monthly revenue fall from $26.7 million in July 2007 to $16.1 million a year later, a decline of 39.7 percent..."