Grand Opening for Blue Chip Casino in Indiana

MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana - (PRESS RELEASE) -- Blue Chip Casino Hotel yesterday announced the grand opening of its new casino, Blue Chip. The new casino, which was the central part of the $170 million
  expansion of the property, features the largest hull size of any casino boat in America, as certified by the U.S. Coast Guard. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Boyd Gaming Corporation, Blue Chip Casino Hotel is located on the Lake Michigan shoreline on Highway 12 in Michigan City, Indiana.

Blue Chip, offering 65,000 square feet of gaming entertainment on one level, was officially christened yesterday and moved into place on Jan. 28, replacing the previous 42,000 square foot, three-level vessel that had been in service since 1997. With the new casino, the gaming area has expanded by approximately 25,000 square feet, and now includes 2,170 slot machines, ranging in denomination from one penny to $100, and 51 table games, including Dragon Bonus, blackjack, craps and roulette.

"The latest games, combined with amenities such as wider aisles, ceilings that range from 14 to 20 feet in height, a state-of-the-art air quality system and elegant decor make Blue Chip an exciting and enjoyable entertainment experience," says Judy Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Blue Chip Casino Hotel. "We're proud to bring this level of gaming excitement to Northwest Indiana."

The multi-level vessel is 402 feet in length, 208 feet wide and 85 feet high, and was constructed on site, as was the previous vessel. The additional levels on Blue Chip, a combined 85,000 square feet, will allow for back-of- the-house operations and future expansion on other decks. The vessel is situated on Trail Creek, a channel that is 1,200 feet long, 250 feet wide and 16 feet deep.

The construction of the new casino boat, during its two-year on-site construction, employed more than 400 area workers. An estimated 100 permanent casino jobs have been added, for a total workforce of approximately 1,350.

The 102,000 square foot pavilion, which adjoins the boat, was expanded by 15,000 square feet early on in the expansion for gaming support operations and additional food and beverage service. New restaurants in the pavilion include William B's Steakhouse, which offers the finest American cuisine, including steak, seafood and desserts in a cozy, comfortable setting; Options Buffet, a 333-seat restaurant with six action stations and salads, entrees, side dishes and desserts; Nelson's Deli, a 68-seat restaurant featuring piled-high sandwiches and other casual meal favorites and Fixations coffee station, which offers specialty coffees, tea and desserts. The most recent addition to the pavilion amenities is Rocks lounge, which features live entertainment.

A four-story, 950-space self parking facility was added in July, 2005, bringing the total number of available parking spaces to more than 3,000. Free valet parking is also provided.

The 35-acre gaming entertainment site also includes The Blue Chip Hotel, which is connected to the pavilion of Blue Chip Casino via an enclosed walkway. The 184-room hotel opened in 2000.