HAMMOND | Bette Midler will take to the stage and celebrities will walk the red carpet for tonight's grand opening at Horseshoe Casino.

Festivities begin with a red-carpet rollout at 7 p.m. and feature the unveiling of The Venue, an entertainment facility that is part of the casino's $500 million renovation. The 2,400-seat multi-purpose area provides a stage for top-name performers and theater productions, but it also can be converted into an arena for sporting events and a banquet facility.

Midler's 8 p.m. performance and Josh Kelley's 10 p.m. concert at The Venue showcases the intimate seating arrangement. The seats also can be retracted for concerts during which standing-room is traditional.

The Venue also has six VIP boxes that feature couches, plasma TVs and full food and beverage service.

"We are thrilled to offer The Venue to Chicagoland as a place to enjoy headline entertainment in an intimate space," said Rick Mazer, regional president and general manager of Horseshoe Casino. "Plus, our diverse talent lineup will offer something for everyone."

Guests also will find lavish decor and new gambling opportunities at the new 350,000-square-foot Horseshoe Casino, owned by Harrah's Entertainment Inc.

More than 120,000 Swarovski crystals twinkle down from chandeliers mounted 21 feet above the casino floor. Giant multicolored koi sculptures mark the entrance to the new 650-seat Village Buffet restaurant. And woodwork hand-carved in China adorns The Le Cheng Casino.

This Asian-themed gambling area, whose name means City of Happiness, features tables for baccarat, poker, blackjack and pai gow tiles.

Gambling enthusiasts can play at more than 3,200 slot machines that take tokens valued from 2 cents to $1,000.

Horseshoe's new 34-table poker room includes a VIP private poker area, which will be the setting for the World Series of Poker circuit events in mid-October.

A high-limit room allows customers to play three-card poker, mini-baccarat and blackjack and bet up to $25,000 a hand.

The two-year construction project that doubled the size of the main floor casino also added upscale and casual dining facilities.

"This compares to anything Las Vegas has," said Kevin Kline, Horseshoe Casino vice president and assistant general manager.