Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies secured major approval for their proposed $1.4 billion dollar project, Live! Gaming & Entertainment District. The massive mixed-entertainment project is planned to be located in the City of Petersburg, Virginia, using land near the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate I-95. The strategic location is expected to help with the visitation to the Live! Gaming & Entertainment District, considering that it provides easy access to one of the most important north-south interstates for the East Coast.

On Thursday, the Cordish Companies and Brice Smith Enterprise received approval for their massive project from the Petersburg City Council. The unanimous approval marks an important achievement for the duo, taking them a step closer to the realization of the ambitious project. Still, prior to commencing the project, the matter must be put up with the voters in the state. It is expected that Virginia voters will have a chance to vote for or against the project in a referendum this year in November.

The massive $1.4 billion project is expected to create more than 7,500 new construction and permanent jobs. At the same time, the Live! Gaming & Entertainment District, Anchored by Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is expected to generate some $504 million in tax revenue for the first ten years. From that total, some $240 million in taxes are expected to benefit the city directly. Overall, the project is expected to bring $2.8 billion in economic stimulus to the region, turning Petersburg into a go-to gaming, entertainment, hospitality and shopping destination.

The Project Is Expected to Deliver World-Class Entertainment, Hospitality

Provided that the project receives a green light, The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise plan to quickly enter into its first phase, developing and opening a new casino that will immediately create new jobs for the city. Once the initial phase is completed, the Live! Gaming & Entertainment District is expected to offer more than 1,000 slots, a dedicated poker room, a casino bar and 23 live action table games.

“We extend our thanks to the entire Petersburg City Council for its thoughtful decision to select Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies as development partners for this transformative, world-class destination in Petersburg.“

Zed Smith, chief operating officer for The Cordish Companies

Zed Smith, The Cordish Companies’ chief operating officer, thanked the Petersburg City Council for its latest decision to support the companies’ ambitious project. He spoke about the Cordish Companies’ experience in developing large-scale mixed-use casino resorts and developments across the country.

Moreover, Smith added that the collaboration with Bruce Smith Enterprise marks the perfect fit for the company. Last but not least, the executive explained that the two companies are looking forward to collaborating with the City and Commonwealth to deliver exceptional gaming experiences and exciting opportunities.

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The Cordish Companies together with Bruce Smith Enterprise unveiled details regarding Live! Gaming & Entertainment District, a new project with a $1.4 billion price tag located in the City of Petersburg, Virginia. Teaming up, the two companies confirmed their intention to codevelop the luxury gaming, hospitality and entertainment resort that will be positioned near Interstate I-95.

Bruce Smith and The Cordish uncovered details regarding a project that is expected to bring economic benefits to the region after submitting a request for proposal with the City. The new luxury casino and entertainment resort is expected to create thousands of new jobs, including construction and permanent jobs.

Once completed, the world-class Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia resort destination is expected to offer more than 400,000 square feet of gaming, dining and hotel spaces. The gaming amenities would include 1,600 state-of-the-art slot machines, a poker room with 15 tables as well as 46 live-action table games. Moreover, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is planned to offer a sportsbook and high-limit table and slot areas, catering to high rollers.

Further amenities the new resort destination in the City of Petersburg is expected to offer include 35,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, as well as an entertainment venue with 3,000 seats that could be used for social gatherings, conventions and meetings.

The premium resort destination would offer free surface parking, as well as a wide range of dining and entertainment options, including three spaces that would be dedicated to local businesses such as restaurants.

The billion-dollar project is estimated to create more than 7,500 construction and permanent jobs and bring $2.8 billion in economic stimulus to the area. According to The Cordish, the annual economic benefits each year after opening would be $201 million.

Two Leading Developers Join Forces

Bruce Smith is a company that has been growing since it was founded two decades ago in 2004. Throughout the years, the company has signed development agreements with recognizable organizations, helping it expand its presence across the country.

Similarly, The Cordish is not a stranger when it comes to the development of large-scale entertainment and casino resorts in the United States. The company is renowned for its dedication to the establishment of world-class destinations that offer not only casino and hotel accommodation but entertainment venues, dining and shopping outlets and more amenities.

“We are incredibly proud to join Bruce Smith and his team to present our vision for a transformational, world-class destination in Petersburg.“

Zed Smith, chief operating officer for The Cordish Companies

In the words of Zed Smith, the chief operating officer for The Cordish, the company is excited to forge this new alliance with Bruce Smith for the development of a new world-class gaming and entertainment destination in the City of Petersburg. He revealed that the company has extensive experience in the development of large-scale mixed-use developments, including casino resorts, across the United States. Finally, Smith said The Cordish remains dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences for its guests.

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The Cordish Companies is set to begin construction on its new Louisiana property in two weeks. The groundbreaking ceremony for Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is set to take place on December 13 and will see the company’s chairman and president personally take part.

The new $270 million property will mark The Cordish Companies’ gambling foray into Louisiana. The Pelican State represents the third commercial gaming state for the company.

Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will replace the former DiamondJacks Casino Resort in Bossier City. The property was acquired by The Cordish Companies from Foundation Gaming for an undisclosed price earlier this year. By securing the property, Cordish also secured the venue’s gambling license, allowing it to launch its own operations.

The DiamondJacks Casino Resort is one of Louisiana’s riverboat properties. Because of a number of devastating hurricanes and storms, the state, which originally only allowed gambling on riverboats, allowed them to move on land.

However, the resort closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the end, the former owner of the property, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, decided to move to another location. After failing to get a project approved, the company sold DiamondJacks to Foundation Gaming.

The Refurbished Property Will Create Jobs and Generate Millions in Taxes

Now that brick-and-mortar gaming is okay in Louisiana, The Cordish Companies will reimagine the gambling venue as a land-based casino. In the meantime, the developer will redevelop and modernize the hotel, turning the property into a cutting-edge resort.

The groundbreaking ceremony on December 13 will be attended by Cordish chair David Cordish and Cordish’s Gaming Group and Live! Casinos president Rob Norton.

The redeveloped casino is expected to open in early 2025. In an interview with gambling news outlet Casino.org, The Cordish Companies said that the renovated property should generate more than $35 million in gaming taxes for the city and over $168 million in gaming taxes for the state within five years of operation.

The renewed casino resort will feature a 500-room hotel with several restaurants. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana should thus create approximately 750 new jobs and will also provide contract opportunities to local businesses.

The Cordish Companies currently operates a number of gambling properties, including Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia and Live! Casino Pittsburgh.

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Leading gaming and entertainment operator, The Cordish Companies, announced a major achievement, clearing the path of the company for its expansion into the casino sector in Bossier City, Louisiana. On Thursday, the company revealed that its affiliate, LRGC Gaming Investors, LCC, secured the required regulatory approvals to become a gambling operator in the state from the gambling regulator, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

The unanimous approval paved the way for The Cordish Companies’ expansion into Louisiana, allowing it to complete the acquisition of the Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel in Bossier City. Additionally, the regulatory approval enables the company to start the transformation of the property into a world-class Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. The premium entertainment, gaming and leisure location is expected to open at some point in 2025.

At the public hearing with the state’s gambling regulator, Cordish representatives unveiled details regarding the new premium entertainment location. Representing an investment north of $270 million, the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is expected to offer supreme dining, entertainment, hotel and casino amenities.

The project includes some 550 hotel rooms, as well as a fitness center and resort pool. A wide range of food and beverage outlets will ensure supreme dining experiences, while a 25,000-square-foot multi-purpose state-of-the-art Event Center will be used for social events, meetings and conventions. The premium gaming and entertainment destination will offer surfaced and structured parking as well.

When it comes to gaming amenities, visitors to the new resort will be able to experience more than 40 live-action table games, as well as more than 1,000 slots and electronic table games. A sportsbook will also be available on site, delivering entertainment for sports fans.

The Approval Marks a Milestone Moment for Cordish

Ronnie Johns, Louisiana Gaming Control Board’s chairman, revealed that the regulator is delighted to grant The Cordish a license for their project in Bossier City. “Cordish has an exceptional reputation in providing first rate casino experiences as well as hospitality and entertainment venues across the country,” he added. Johns pointed out that the Board is excited to see the Live! brand enter Louisiana. Finally, he predicted that the casino and entertainment location would propel the growth of the region.

“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 at The Cordish Companies

Joe Weinberg, The Cordish Companies’ managing partner, thanked the gambling regulator for their approval and enthusiasm regarding the multi-million-dollar project. “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,” he explained. Finally, Weinberg said that the company is thrilled to see its massive project advance and become a go-to world-class location for the region.

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Since the $150-million, first-class gaming and entertainment destination Live! Casino Pittsburgh opened its gates in November 2020 under the reputable The Cordish Companies’ brand, the two have set up a $21-million Local Share Account (LSA). The LSA money was used to generate grants that have since reached a number of municipalities and non-profit organizations in Westmoreland County. 

Now, the duo has made all the details of the grants known to the public, giving grant recipients, leaders in the local communities, state legislators, county commissioners, and Hempfield Township representatives many reasons to celebrate. 

Proving their goal to play “an important role in supporting and enhancing the communities” in Philadelphia’s Westmoreland County, the Cordish Companies, the family-owned business with global reach that develops urban revitalization projects and entertainment districts, has announced the destinations of the funds. 

The money reached a series of important projects, including the reconstruction of old bridges, the resurfacing of roads, bringing improvement to local parks and playgrounds, upgrading stormwater and equipment used by local emergency services including the fire department and the police, and more. 

The LSA grant proceeds have three different sources for funding: the Local Share Account Statewide with $12,928,220, the Local Share Account Category 4 Facilities Program for Westmoreland County with $4,021,881, and the Hempfield Township which received an extra $4,021,881. 

The LSA proceeds generated by Live! Casino for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 reached 38 local municipalities and organizations and were used as an important investment for 77 projects in the county while individual grants ranged from $2,850 to $1 million.

The Hempfield Township Casino, “a True Blessing”

According to Douglas Weimer, the vice chair of the Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors, the opening of the Hempfield Township casino has enabled them to “reverse and improve the economy around the mall” while enhancing the resources and services in the local community.

Since its opening three years ago, the Live! Casino facility has generated close to $519 million in investments to the local economy, including $40 million paid in licensing fees, $100 million in construction jobs and expenses, $5.1 million paid as local taxes to the Hempfield Township, $123 million that reached the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue in the form of taxes from gaming, and close to $55 million in employee compensations among others. 

The Cordish Companies’ managing partner, Joe Weinberg, praised the work put in by their team members, along with elected officials and local organizations toward building a “stronger Westmoreland County through our continued partnership.”

Joining in on the celebrations, the general manager for Live Casino, Sean Sullivan, explained that making a positive impact on the local community has always represented a top priority for them. He added they will continue to support local families with more employment opportunities and local charities with the help of donations and volunteering work.

In April, The Cordish Companies introduced their plans for a $250 million casino resort project in Louisiana. In November 2022, The Cordish Companies’ gaming division, Cordish Gaming Group, announced it would share ownership of its mobile sports betting license in Maryland with its employees.

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An ambitious plan presented to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) by The Cordish Companies on Monday seeks to redevelop the Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel in Bossier City and build a Live! casino resort.

‘World-Class Resort Destination’

Central to the $250+ million redevelopment plan is the construction of an entirely new land-based casino and the removal of the existing casino riverboat. Subject to approval by the LGCB, The Cordish Companies plans to open its new destination, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, in 2025.

Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will be a world-class resort destination that brings a first-class gaming, dining, entertainment and hospitality experience to the region, creates significant new jobs, and generates millions of dollars in economic benefits for the community.

Joe Weinberg, managing partner, The Cordish Companies

The new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will feature a brand new land-based casino with 47,000 square feet of gaming space offering visitors more than 1,000 slots and electronic table games and over 30 live table games. A resort-style hotel with more than 400 rooms will provide hospitality for the resort guests.

The complex will also have a 25,000-square-foot event center providing space for entertainment events, meetings, conventions, non-profits, and social gatherings. An additional 30,000 square feet will be dedicated to dining and entertainment venues, with six new food and beverage outlets among which Sports & Social and PBR Cowboy Bar.

Life Changer for the Region

Excited to welcome The Cordish Companies to Bossier City and looking forward to working with them, Bossier City Mayor Thomas Chandler expressed the high expectations the city has about the newly-proposed casino project.

“Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana will attract millions of visitors to our city, create substantial new jobs, and generate additional significant tax revenue for our community,” he said, concluding that the project would be “a life changer” for the region.

Ronnie Johns, chairman of the LGCB, was equally excited and looking forward to working with The Cordish Companies, highlighting their “exemplary” reputation as owners and operators of casinos, restaurants, hotels and entertainment destinations nationwide.

Grateful to Foundation Gaming “for their vision in beginning this much-needed process of rebuilding a closed casino property” and The Cordish Companies “for choosing Louisiana to bring their expertise and major investment,” Johns concluded by stating that the Board will be working with both “to make this project a reality” and “deliver a gaming and entertainment destination that Louisiana can be proud of.”

On behalf of Foundation Gaming & Entertainment, co-chief executive officer Greg Guida outlined expectations that demolition of the Diamond Jacks property that started in February would soon finish and clear the way for the new casino resort to appear.

For The Cordish Companies, the development of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will affirm the group’s ambition to continue to expand across markets in the South Central and Southeast regions in the US, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

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