The first of three job fairs to fill hundreds of opening positions at the closest casino to Indianapolis is today.

Applicants from throughout the region are expected at the event, which is from 2 to 7 p.m. on the second floor of Indiana Downs race track, 4200 N. Michigan Road, Shelbyville.

Indiana Downs is about 20 minutes southeast of downtown Indianapolis, at Interstate 74 and Exit 109.

Today’s job fair begins Indiana Live Casino’s quest to fill 350 positions at the casino’s permanent 233,000-square-foot facility currently under construction and set to open in a few months.

The permanent $195 million Indiana Live Casino will employ more than 750 people with an annual payroll of more than $19 million once open.

Applicants are being sought to fill positions in operations, food and beverage service, finance, slot operations, security, transportation, cashiers and engineering, among other fields.

Applicants must be age 21 or older and show proof of age at the job fair.

Job seekers not able to attend today’s event but who are interested in employment at Indiana Live Casino can also apply online at www.indianalivecasino.com.

Indiana Live Casino will host two other job fairs following Friday’s event, one from 1 to 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at Indiana Downs and the other from noon to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Indianapolis Star’s 2008 Diversity and Education Fair inside Indiana Convention Center’s Hall E in downtown Indianapolis.

Additionally, the casino will be seeking potential new hires as it participates in a job fair at the Indianapolis Art Institute from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 27.

Since opening in a 70,000-square-foot temporary facility in June, more than 420 full- and part-time workers have joined Indiana Live Casino, which features more than 1,900 high-tech slot machines, electronic blackjack table games, electronic roulette table games and an eatery catered by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck.

The permanent casino will open adjacent to Indiana Downs and feature more casino floor space; dining establishments including Maker’s Mark Steakhouse, NASCAR Sports Grille and Live Market; and nightlife destinations.

The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round.