Dayton racino to start hiring this summer; smokers not eligible

The bulk of hiring for jobs at the new racino in north Dayton will take place this summer, according to the general manager of Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.

Hollywood won’t commit to an exact number of employees, or what percentage of jobs will be full-time or part-time, but general manager Gary DeWitt did point out that smokers need not apply.

“It’ll be a smoke-free environment, but also our team members will be required to be nicotine-free,” he said.

All Penn National Gaming establishments require employees to be nicotine-free as part of a corporate wellness program, DeWitt said.

No firm opening date has been set for the racino being built at the corner of Needmore and Wagner Ford roads.

“We’re about 90 percent enclosed, so there’s a lot going on in the interior,” DeWitt said. “We’re on schedule for a fall opening. It’s still a dynamic situation.”

Hollywood has posted several job openings for its administrative and executive team on its website, hollywooddaytonraceway.com. Potential employees can go to the site, click on "Careers" and register to be notified when future openings are posted.

DeWitt is working out of a temporary office on Needmore Road, about a mile from the construction site.

He said the jobs impact on the area will be about 1,000 “direct and indirect” positions.

DeWitt also said the racino plans to open with 1,000 video lottery terminals with room to expand to 1,500.

“We want to make sure we don’t have too much supply initially,” he said. “We’ll take a more conservative approach, and if demand dictates we’ll add units.”

Penn National is spending $125 million to build the racino. The gaming giant also is paying a $75 million fee to relocate one of its harness racing tracks from Toledo to Dayton, plus $50 million for a slots license fee.

Harness racing will begin in early October and the track will feature 1,037 seats for spectators.

DeWitt likes the racino’s site on the northern end of a cluster of what will be seven casinos or racinos in the region.

“Access to the property is good from both the north and south and we’re no more than a mile off I-75,” DeWitt said. “We love our setting, right across the street from the (Kittyhawk) golf course.

“We think it’s a very, very good market. Penn National is the largest regional gaming operator, so we’re confident in our abilities.”

About the Author