Ground was broken last Wednesday morning near the valet entrance of Horseshoe Southern Indiana for the new 100,000-square-foot gaming facility that will take the place of the Glory of Rome, the casino boat that opened nearly 20 years ago as one of 10 gaming licenses in Indiana.

"I can't be more thrilled to be here this morning," Brad Seigel, senior vice president and general manager of Horseshoe Southern Indiana, said prior to the ceremonious turning of some dirt that had been brought in and set up on asphalt for the occasion.

After opening in late October 2018, the casino is "building a new home," he said, that will be "much more convenient to all guests."

Gaming in the state initially was only allowed on water. However, the Indiana Gaming Commission changed that requirement in 2015, prompting Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe's parent company, to design a Las Vegas-style casino along the Ohio River on the other side of S.R. 111 in the area between the casino's parking garage and the existing entertainment complex.

Seigel said, "The Glory of Rome has served us well," but the company decided to take advantage of the legislative change to construct a state-of-the-art facility that will provide a "greater destination" to its guests.

The new facility also will contain dining and retail space.

Seigel said Horseshoe Southern Indiana will continue to be involved in the Louisville metropolitan area, sponsoring events like Thunder Over Louisville, the fireworks show that takes place on the Ohio River as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival, but also investing in two foundations that provide scholarships and help fund projects.

Harrison County Commissioner Kenny Saulman spoke at the ground-breaking about some of the ways the casino has helped the county.

"A little more than 24 years ago, the voters of Harrison County faced a difficult decision on whether or not to approve a referendum allowing gaming in Harrison County," he said. "In May of 1994, the voters ..., based on their vision for road improvements, increased funding for education, police and fire protection, economic development, jobs and lower taxes, did what our neighboring counties failed to do and narrowly approved the riverboat gaming referendum by a vote of 5,855 to 5,602.

"It's unlikely at that time that anyone truly appreciated the impact that decision would have on Harrison County," he said.

Since that time, more than 350 miles of the county's 800-plus miles of gravel roads have been paved and there's been widening, resurfacing and other improvements to roads, Saulman said.

Other areas of improvements Saulman mentioned include the county's water supply, wastewater service, renovation of the courthouse and the Justice Center, construction of an animal control facility and the highway department garage, reconstruction of the old hospital into the Government Center and the creation of the Discovery Center, as well as improvements to law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical services.

"Riverboat funding helped to make these improvements possible," he said.

"Education has also been at the forefront of the use of riverboat revenue," Saulman continued. "Improvements to school buildings and programs offered have touched every student in Harrison County, from the highest achieving to the most at risk. Lifelong Learning continues to provide opportunities for adult education for those that seek it."

Projects positively impacted by riverboat funding include the YMCA of Harrison County, Keller Fields, the Boys & Girls Club, the county's parks system, to include a new boat ramp near Mauckport and a new section of Indian Creek Trail.

"The Harrison County Community Foundation was created with an initial gift of $5 million from what was Caesars," Saulman said. "If the Community Foundation were the only thing that Harrison County had gotten out of this development, it would still have been a great success ... In the past 22 years, the (HCCF) has received more than $185 million of riverboat funding.

"The people of Harrison County should be very proud of the vision our leaders of that time had to create the Foundation," he said. "In the years since, the (HCCF) has awarded more than $10 million in scholarships, almost $40 million to county projects ... and more than $40 million in grants to our schools, towns and other non-profit agencies."

Saulman said the county looks forward to many years of continued partnership with Horseshoe Southern Indiana.

Harmon Brown construction company is in charge of the project that is expected to take about 18 months.

Horseshoe Southern Indiana will continue to operate as usual during the construction.

Seigel said guests will be redirected to the parking garage near the hotel as needed instead of using the one closest to the entertainment complex. The valet parking also will be relocated.