Louisiana: Cordish celebrates topping off ceremony for $270M Live! Casino in Bossier City

The Cordish Companies celebrated Wednesday the ‘topping off’ ceremony for the upcoming $270+ million Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana. Set to become the first land-based casino in the Shreveport-Bossier market upon completion, the project aims to serve as a regional destination for "world-class gaming, dining, entertainment, and hotel amenities," according to the developer.

The Cordish Companies and General Contractor AnderCorp were joined by state and local officials including the State of Louisiana, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Former Secretary of State, Kyle Ardoin; Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Chris Hebert; Louisiana State Senator Sam L. Jenkins, Jr.; Bossier City Mayor Thomas Chandler; and Bossier Parish Police Jury President Philip Rodgers. 

Regional business, community and tourism leaders were also in attendance, joining Cordish in celebrating the final commemorative beam being raised to complete the superstructure of the property.

"Today marks an incredibly special day for The Cordish Companies as we continue to expand our Live! brand in the Southeast region of the country with the development of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana," said Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group, the gaming division of The Cordish Companies. 

"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."

Located along the Red River in Bossier City, directly across from Shreveport, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will feature more than 47,000 square feet of gaming space; 1,000+ slots and electronic table games; 40+ table games; a sportsbook; an upscale 550-room hotel, resort pool and fitness center.

It will also offer a 25,000-square-foo multi-purpose Event Center for entertainment, meetings, conventions, non-profit and social gatherings; a 31-site RV 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 project, which is scheduled to open in Q1 2025, is projected to generate more than $35 million in gaming tax revenues for Bossier City and more than $168 million for the State of Louisiana within its first five years of operation. It is also expected to create approximately 1,500 new jobs, including 750 new construction jobs and approximately 750 permanent jobs for local and regional residents, as per Cordish.

"I am honored to lead the board at such an exciting time for the gaming industry in Louisiana. Our team has worked so hard to establish this first land-based casino in the Bossier market, and we are ecstatic to be one step closer to realizing it with today's topping off of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana," said Chris Hebert, Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

"We have already seen the benefits that Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana has brought to Bossier City," said Thomas Chandler, Mayor of Bossier City. "As we get closer to opening this landmark property, our anticipation continues to build, and I couldn't be happier for my community and more appreciative of Live! for its partnership and positive impact."

Live Casino Louisiana unveils dining and entertainment offerings

During the ceremony, officials also announced two other additions to the 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 with a Venetian flair.

Meanwhile, Cordish described The Prime Rib as being renowned "for luxurious fine dining and exceptional service in an environment of timeless sophistication." The concept has garnered numerous accolades, including being ranked as a Top 10 Best Casino Restaurant by USA Today Readers' Choice Awards in both 2022 and 2023. 

The award-winning menu features an array of premium steaks, such as the restaurant's signature prime rib, prime cuts of filet mignon, ribeye, porterhouse, and NY strip, alongside veal chops, and lamb, jumbo lump crab cakes, Chilean sea bass, ahi tuna, salmon and other seafood specialties. A selection of signature salads, sides, and desserts completes the offering. 

Ridotto Grand Café and The Prime Rib join the previously announced offerings, which include sports bar and restaurant Sports & Social, the country western-inspired PBR Cowboy Bar, and Luk Fu, an Asian-themed restaurant featuring flavors of Southeast Asia.

"Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is a spectacular one-stop destination for excitement for everyone from gaming enthusiasts, foodies, sports fans, concertgoers, or just locals and visitors looking for their next night out," said John J. Chaszar, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana.

"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. Today marks a significant milestone in this journey, and we eagerly anticipate showcasing all the incredible offerings we have planned for early 2025."