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CLEVELAND, Ohio -Jack Cleveland Casino is again welcoming gamblers to the gaming tables and slot machines now that security barriers are down and roads are open following the Republican National Convention.

The casino's business suffered during the Republican National Convention last week. While officials won't say how bad it was it will become clear in August when the Ohio Casino Control Commission releases the monthly revenue results.

"From a business perspective it was certainly challenging," Mark Tricano, senior vice president of operations, said Friday in a phone interview. "The vast preponderance of our business is local and when they have concerns about safety or traffic they kind of avoided downtown this week."

The casino welcomed back guests on Saturday and Sunday on Twitter.

The casino suffered because:

• Road and security restrictions imposed for the convention made it difficult for anyone to drive to Public Square. The casino's garage on Ontario Street was limited to 200 parking spaces.
• Protests were held outside the casino's front door on Public Square.
• Those in the immediate area by the casino were security forces, protesters, journalists and vendors.
• Many downtown workers who frequent the casino on their lunch hour or after work stayed home.
• Delegates did not have easy access because the walkway from Quicken Loans Arena to Tower City was closed.
• And the Cleveland Indians, whose fans visit the casino before and after the game, were out of town.

 The casino had a permit to serve liquor until 4 a.m. but the bar business was slow, like at many bars in the city.

Downtown bar scene a ghost town

Other business leaders, especially those with restaurants, said business was slow because of the lack of downtown workers, Tricano said.

Cleveland restaurants adjust to new crowds or no crowds during convention

Despite the challenges for the casino, Tricano called the convention a success.

"For us to get through the week without any major safety issues or concerns is a success," he said.

The positive national attention the city received likely means people will visit in the future, he said.

"I think in terms of a measurement of success (for the convention) it is not going to be measured  over revenues for a seven-day period," he said. "I think the city did a phenomenal job and it will pay off in the long term for us."