CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Horseshoe Casino Cleveland has banned sagging pants and loitering as part of a code of conduct for customers.

The Horseshoe, which opened May 14, quietly posted the rules within the last few days and issued only a brief prepared statement Wednesday when asked about the reasons for the move.

"Like any large entertainment center, Horseshoe Cleveland upholds standards of guest behavior in order to maintain a safe and pleasant environment for all visitors and employees," spokeswoman Christina Karas said in an email. "The guidelines posted at our entrances are to notify our guests of our policies."

The casino, situated between the East 4th Street and Warehouse entertainment districts, operates round-the-clock and has been drawing large crowds. The rules seem to be aimed at younger casino patrons, who must be at least 21 to enter, and mimics a set enforced by the adjacent Tower City Center mall.

The casino code also bans running, vandalism and other inappropriate behavior and restricts seating in the food court to paying customers. And while patrons can continue to wear ball caps, hoods can cover heads only in the poker room, where players want help in masking their demeanor.

Patrons must wear "appropriate" clothing, including shoes and shirts. Clothing cannot display offensive pictures or phrases.

Only one of the code's provisions is required by the Ohio Casino Control Commission -- a prohibition on firearms, a rule that was publicized before the Horseshoe opened.

Commission Executive Director Matthew Schuler oversees state agents who have jurisdiction on the gaming floor. He said that he knew of no major incidents at the Horseshoe and that casino officials were looking out for the good of everyone.

"You have to have the tools to invite people (who are) in the casino for the wrong reasons to leave," he said. "And we support that."

Tom Gill of North Royalton said he had not encountered any threats while visiting the casino to play Texas Hold 'em in the poker room, but two couples told him they had seen noisy youths wearing sagging pants.

"They (the couples) were not going to come back," Gill, 74, said as he left the casino Wednesday. "It kind of scared them."

Reginald Scott of University Heights sometimes visits the casino in the early evening to play slot machines or blackjack. He said he had no problem with the casino telling customers to lower their hoods.

"People wear hoods to hide themselves," said Scott, 26.