Penn National Gaming opened the doors to its Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown on Sept. 17.
Penn National spent $250 million on the racino, which has 850 video lottery terminals, six different restaurants and a one-mile horse racing track with over 1,000 seats. The races begin on Nov. 24, but the racino also has a simulcast theater that will show horse races from across the country year-round.
The casino is employing 400 people, with 65 percent of the positions being full time. They are hiring in areas such as security, hospitality management and marketing.
Mark Zetts, the coordinator of Youngstown State University’s hospitality management program, said students had been offered the ability to tour the facility prior to its opening.
“They’ve been actively involved in trying to recruit people,” Zetts said. “They are very interested in the relationship with the university.”
Queeta Hewitt, director of human resources at the racino, said the general manager has made contact but most of their energy has been focused on opening at this point.
“We definitely want to
