Hard Rock International Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas said a Friends and Family event will take place on May 11, with a VIP-only opening on May 13.

Prior to the announcement, the Indiana Gaming Commission board of directors ratified orders by commission staff calling for Rod Ratcliff, the former chief executive officer and chair of Spectacle Entertainment, to be divested from any ownership in entities associated with licensee Majestic Star Casinos and that he permanently relinquish his gaming license in Indiana.

The IGC board also approved a $530,000 settlement with Spectacle Entertainment for taking more than 50 days to follow the regulating agency’s order to remove Ratcliff and replace him with a new manager.

Hard Rock and Spectacle are partners in the $300 million Gary project and an upcoming casino project to be located in Terre Haute, called Lucy Luck.

Spectacle currently operates Majestic Star Casinos in Gary, which will close once the new casino opens.

“Never has a casino licensee failed to comply with an IGC order for more than 50 days,” said IGC Executive Director Sara Tait, in calling for the $530,000 fine.

Tait said she felt it was necessary to follow strict regulations for the integrity of Indiana gaming.

The IGC had filed a complaint with Lake Superior Court in February to permanently revoke Ratcliff’s Indiana gaming license, citing numerous examples of alleged wrongdoing, including being part of a scheme to funnel corporate campaign funds to an Indiana candidate for Congress, taking company money to fund his personal horse racing betting account without reporting it and obstructing justice.

The legal matters threatened to postpone the opening of the $300 million casino complex, located off Interstate 80/94 at the Burr Street exit.

IGC General Counsel Greg Small said remaining parties involved in the casino are in good standing, and ratifying the orders calling for Ratcliff’s divestiture “allows this very important economic development project to move forward.”