The Cordish Companies receives approval for Louisiana casino project

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has cleared the way for Cordish to finalise the acquisition of Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel.

US.- The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has unanimously granted LRGC Gaming Investors, an affiliate of The Cordish Companies, regulatory approval to become a gaming operator in the state. The approval clears the way for Cordish to complete its acquisition of Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel in Bossier City and begin its transformation into a Live! casino resort.

The project will include the construction of the first land-based casino in the Shreveport-Bossier market replacing the existing riverboat. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is scheduled to open in 2025.

Joe Weinberg, managing partner at The Cordish Companies, said: “We’re grateful to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board for their approval and thank them for their consideration and enthusiastic support through this process.”

Weinberg added: “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.”

Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, said: “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.

“Cordish has an exceptional reputation in providing first rate casino experiences as well as hospitality and entertainment venues across the country. 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 $270m 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.”

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DiamondJacks in Bossier City has been shut since May 2020. P2E laid off 349 employees and held a liquidation sale after announcing that it wouldn’t reopen the casino after pandemic restrictions were lifted. The property was the first casino to open in northwest Louisiana in 1994.