Courtyard

State’s first land-based casino reaches landmark

On July 17, LRGC Gaming Investors, an affiliate of the Cordish Companies, topped off Shreveport-Bossier’s first land-based casino in a traditional construction ceremony.

To celebrate the final commemorative beam being raised to complete the new $270+ million Live! Casino & Hotel property superstructure, the Cordish Companies and general contractor AnderCorp held what’s known as a topping-out ceremony. Officials were joined by Kyle Ardoin, state of Louisiana director of intergovernmental affairs and former secretary of state; Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Chris Hebert; Louisiana State Senator Sam L. Jenkins Jr.; Bossier City Mayor Thomas Chandler; Bossier Parish Police Jury President Philip Rodgers and other state and local officials and regional business, community and tourism leaders.

According to the company, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will feature more than 47,000 square feet of gaming space; over 1,000 slots and electronic table games; 40+ live-action table games; a sportsbook; a 550-room hotel with a resort pool and fitness center; a 25,000-square-foot, multipurpose event center for entertainment, meetings, conventions and nonprofit and social gatherings; a 31-site R.V. park with concrete pads and full hook-ups; structured and surface parking and 30,000 square feet of dining entertainment venues with new food and beverage outlets.

The makeover is scheduled to be finished during the first quarter of 2025. The company projects generating income of more than $35 million in gaming tax revenues for Bossier City and more than $168 million for the state of Louisiana within the first five years of operation. They also anticipate the generation of 750 construction jobs and an additional 750 permanent jobs when the casino hotel is completed.

During the ceremony, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana also announced two other additions to its restaurant lineup: Ridotto Grand Café and The Prime Rib ® steakhouse.

Ridotto Grand Café, located adjacent to the hotel lobby, will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Influenced by its namesake, Il Ridotto of Venice, the first gambling establishment in Europe, the menu will serve Italian specialties. The Prime Rib has been ranked as a Top 10 Best Casino Restaurant by the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards in 2022 and 2023. The family-owned restaurant has also consistently been rated No. 1 by Zagat in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, including Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia in the Stadium District. The menu features steaks, such as the restaurant’s signature prime rib, prime cuts of filet mignon, ribeye, porterhouse and N.Y. strip, alongside veal chops, lamb, jumbo lump crab cakes, Chilean sea bass, ahi tuna, salmon and other seafood specialties. A selection of salads, sides and desserts is also on the menu.

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In marking the significance of the topping out, John J. Chaszar, executive vice president and general manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, said, “Hundreds of men and women are working hard to make sure that this property will be unforgettable the moment it opens its doors, promising an experience that will entice visitors from near and far to return again and again.”

Ridotto Grand Café and The Prime Rib® join the previously announced Sports & Social, a sports bar and restaurant known for its immersive atmosphere; PBR Cowboy Bar, a country-western venue combining “cowboy cool” with top-notch hospitality and entertainment featuring a mechanical bull; and Luk Fu, an Asian-themed restaurant featuring the traditional flavors of Southeast Asia.

Rob Norton, president of Cordish Gaming Group, the gaming division of the Cordish Companies, said, “With the first land-based casino in the market, Live! Casino & Hotel will be a transformative development that will bring a first-class gaming and entertainment experience to millions of visitors, create significant new jobs and generate millions of dollars in economic benefits for the community for generations to come.”

Employment opportunities at the reimagined facility include hotel operations, finance, marketing, human resources, information technologies, food and beverage, facilities, security and surveillance and casino operations.

Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana said it intends to purchase millions of dollars in goods and services in the region. The company also boasts a well-respected community outreach operation with a track record of supporting local and regional businesses. In addition, the company pledged to ensure contract opportunities for local, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses.

For more information, visit LiveCasinoLA.com.

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