double-down in the heartland.

Some casino news closer to home. From the Indianapolis Star:

Casino school opens in French Lick

FRENCH LICK, Ind. -- The first round of training for future poker dealers at the new Orange County casino begins next week.

The French Lick Resort & Casino is scheduled to open in November, and officials have already offered jobs to about 350 people. Training for people who will run craps, roulette and poker tables begins Monday and will last for 10 to 12 weeks, while training for blackjack dealers begins in August.

The dealers were hired after a job fair in June, and another job fair was scheduled for August 18-19 to find about 600 more people to work at the facility.

"We couldn't be happier with the turnout we had for our June job fair," said Scott Spurlock, general manager of the French Lick Springs Resort. "With the additional job fair in August, we fully expect to have all positions filled before the resort and casino opening in November."

Hourly wages at the French Lick Springs Resort start at $8 an hour for housekeepers, but officials have said casino dealers may earn up to $50,000.

The French Lick Resort & Casino is a $382 million restoration and casino development project that includes the French Lick Springs Resort and the new French Lick Casino -- both scheduled to open in November -- and the West Baden Springs Hotel, which is slated to open in June 2007.

The resort and casino will include more than 650 guest rooms and suites, an 84,000-square-foot casino, 45 holes of golf and two full-service spas.