BOSSIER CITY, La. (KSLA) — The Shreveport/Bossier City market’s newest casino venture could create up to 1,500 jobs. That’s 750 construction jobs and another 750 hospitality-related jobs once Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana opens in Bossier City.
“When we come into a market like this, we’re really excited about the economic opportunities and the opportunities we create within the local community,” said Rob Norton, president of Cordish Gaming Group.
“You know, we’ll have hundreds and hundreds of new jobs. So I’d say be on the lookout, over the next couple of months we’ll start to release specifics about job fairs and job opportunities.”
On Oct. 19, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board unanimously approved of Cordish Companies renovating the former DiamondJacks Casino. Cordish Companies plans to spend $270 million to renovate the property. Officials held a groundbreaking Dec. 13 to officially kick off the project.
“A game changer. This right now is going to game change this whole area,” Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler said. “The city, the citizens are all back behind this. The administration, the council, everyone is back behind this 100%. This is going to make this area the number one spot in Louisiana entertainment.”
Cordish Companies plans to turn the property into the Shreveport-Bossier City area’s first land-based casino by replacing the existing riverboat. The new casino is scheduled to open sometime in 2025.
“It is exciting to see a new opportunity, the first land-based casino to come in and invest in our community. And help revitalize our community and help grow our community,” said Lisa Johnson, president and CEO of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce.
“This is going to be unlike anything that anybody has seen here in Shreveport Bossier since the casino market came in here,” Bossier City District 1 Councilman Brian Hammons said.
“We’re a family-owned business,” noted Joe Billhimer, chief operating and development officer for Cordish Gaming Group. “They will be doing things a little bit differently than kind of the current competive set. Getting involved in the community is part of our DNA.”
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“We’re grateful to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board for their approval and thank them for their consideration and enthusiastic support through this process,” Joe Weinberg, managing partner with Cordish Companies, said in October.
“Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will be a transformative development that will bring a first-class gaming, dining, entertainment and hospitality experience, create significant new jobs and generate millions of dollars in economic benefits for the community. We are extremely excited to continue moving forward with this project and deliver a world-class destination to the region.”
“The Louisiana Gaming Control Board is pleased to announce the approval of The Cordish Companies’ acquisition of the license from the former Diamond Jacks property in Bossier City,” Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, announced earlier this fall.
“Cordish has an exceptional reputation in providing first-rate casino experiences as well as hospitality and entertainment venues across the country,” he continued. ”We are pleased with their decision to bring their Live! brand to the State of Louisiana.
“We feel comfortable that their commitment to a first-class, $270 million project will help grow the Bossier City/Shreveport gaming market. We welcome the Cordish Companies and look forward to working with them to bring this project to a reality to open sometime in 2025.”
The renovated casino will feature:
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