The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana announced a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its Coushatta Casino Resort, a casino complex near Kinder. The ceremony is set to take place on March at 10 am and will celebrate the construction of a new eight-story hotel.

According to the announcement, the new hotel will sport some 204 rooms and 100 suites and will be connected to the casino. This will provide visitors with easy access to the gaming area, allowing them to enjoy the tribe’s gaming offerings.

For reference, the casino offers some 2,000 slot games and over 55 table games, meaning that in addition to cutting-edge slots, visitors can enjoy games, such as poker and bingo. The casino resort is also equipped with a sportsbook, allowing visitors to place wagers on sporting events.

By boosting the capacity of the resort, the Coushatta Tribe will be able to accommodate more guests, while creating new jobs for people in the locale. The new luxury hotel will bring the total capacity of the Coushatta Casino Resort to more than 1,000 rooms.

The Tribe Wants to Provide Guests with Premium Lodging

The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by many notable representatives of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, including Coushatta Tribal Council chairman Jonathan Cernek and Coushatta Casino Resort general manager Todd Stewart. In addition, the event will welcome representatives of TBE Architects, Yates Construction and the Wenaha Group.

The ceremony will be held at the Sculpture Garden in front of the Seven Clans Hotel. The program will include Coushatta Tribe dancers and drummers and a cake-cutting ceremony. The event will be open to the public.

Jonathan Cernek, chairman of the Coushatta Tribal Council, expressed his excitement about the upgrade, saying that he is looking forward to the completion of the new hotel and to welcoming its first guests. He said that the tribe’s goal is to offer an elevated gaming experience to players by providing them with high-quality lodging and premium dining options.

Cernek added:

The Coushatta Tribe is leading the way in building an unsurpassed resort destination, both in the local market and in the entire region.

Jonathan Cernek, chair, Coushatta Tribal Council

Speaking of tribal gaming, tribal organizations recently held the 4th Annual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit. During the event, experts raised the problem of the human element being the greatest vulnerability faced by tribes.

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The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has reported an impressive $52.7 million in gross sports betting revenue for January. The figure reflects the aggressive marketing efforts of the Pelican State’s ten mobile sportsbooks, which actively courted and engaged the public. Increased spending also reflected positively on the state’s budget, bolstering community-focused initiatives.

Louisiana Remains an Attractive Market for Operators

Ten sportsbooks represent Louisiana’s sports betting sector, including well-known names like BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet, Betway, and ESPN Bet. The state’s wagering scene remains dynamic, evidenced by Bet365 and ClutchBet’s recent entries in this jurisdiction as they attempt to disrupt the status quo and secure a sustainable market share. 

According to state regulations, digital operators in Louisiana have a promotional spend limit of $5 million per calendar year, encouraging companies to spend strategically to capitalize on high-profile events or bolster retention during slower months. January witnessed a record-high spending spree, with $13.8 million in promotional credits and bonuses, surpassing the previous record set in January 2022.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB), the state’s gambling regulator, closely monitors ongoing trends to ensure operators remain accountable and do not violate marketing rules. This comprehensive data also enables Louisiana authorities to adapt to industry developments, ensuring adequate customer protection and social accountability.

January Set the Stage for a Successful Year

Louisiana’s year-over-year handle saw a remarkable 22.7% surge, reaching $346.3 million, making it the third-largest total in Louisiana State history. Although 8.1% lower than the record set in December 2023, the figures indicate a robust and thriving sports betting market in the state. The online sector retained its dominance, recording a handle of $317.8 million, while retail sportsbooks collected $28.5 million.

January had remarkable revenue holds, with a 15.2% win rate. This result marked the sixth time in 25 months of mobile betting that the win rate exceeded 15%, more than double the industry standard of 7%. The high win rate and the significant promotional spend made the state eligible to tax approximately 74% of the gross revenue, collecting almost $39 million.

The report indicates a robust start to the year for Louisiana’s sports betting operators, showcasing the significant growth and potential of the market. Extra funds will bolster the state’s education programs and help finance gambling harm prevention initiatives. Despite the slight slowdown in January, next month’s results should more than compensate, bolstered by the traditional Super Bowl surge.

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In their first FBS season, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks went 8-3, with a 6-21 record in Conference USA. Now, it’s time for Rich Rodriguez’s men to play their first college bowl.

The game in question is the 2023 New Orleans Bowl, in which they’ll take on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at Caesars Superdome in NOLA.

Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana 2023 New Orleans Bowl Odds

*Odds taken from Caesars Sportsbook on Thursday, December 7.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana    
• Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023
• Time: 2:15 p.m.
• How to Watch: ESPN

Jacksonville State Gamecocks Favored to Triumph in Their First-Ever Bowl

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks have never played a college bowl game in the program’s 99-year-long history. They moved to the Bowl Subdivision of the NCAAF this year, going 8-4 and becoming the first team in 26 years to make a bowl in its first season in the FBS.

That’s a great achievement, but there’s one thing that should worry them. These guys lost two of their last three games. Those losses happened to South Carolina (5-7) and New Mexico State (10-4), two teams with superb offensive teams.

But even against those opponents, Jacksonville’s defense did not embarrass itself. That’s something that’s giving the Gamecocks a lot of confidence ahead of the 2023 New Orleans Bowl.

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Looking for Their 6^th Win in the New Orleans Bowl

Michael Desormeaux’s team finished the 2023 NCAAF season with a 6-6 record (3-5 in Sun Belt Conference). They could’ve done better but their offense wasn’t too impressive.

Sure, they did score 52 points in their most recent game, but before that, they were somewhat disappointing. Their season average was 32.25 PPG, but in three of the last four games, they went under that number.

Truth be told, they had some really tough games in the remainder of the season – Troy (11-2), Arkansas State (6-6), and so on.

Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Prediction

Our 2023 New Orleans Bowl prediction is that this is going to be a very close game, probably with not too many points overall. Literally a single field goal could decide the winner on December 16.

Given that the Ragin’ Cajuns have one of the best kickers in college football – Kelvin Almendares who went 13-for-14 with field goals in 2023 – which is why they’re our pick.

Pick: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (+130) & Under 56.5 Points

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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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October’s sports wagering revenue results revealed impressive performances across several high-profile jurisdictions. Louisiana and Pennsylvania stand out, setting new benchmarks amidst significant growth in their respective markets. Such detailed results remain integral to understanding emerging industry trends, allowing stakeholders to adjust their strategies and keep players engaged.

Pennsylvania Remains a Thriving Market

Pennsylvania reported an astounding $829.0 million sports betting handle in October, surpassing last month’s high by 4.0%. This milestone propelled sports betting revenue to $48.2 million, an 18.8% year-on-year increase. Online wagering performed spectacularly, contributing $43.1 million to the overall revenue, while retail betting accounted for $5.1 million.

Hollywood Casino at the Meadows and Barstool emerged as market frontrunners, generating $18.9 million in revenue from $258.3 million in bets. Valley Forge and FanDuel, which led in September, lagged slightly behind with $18.2 million in revenue despite a higher handle of $328.4 million. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and BetRivers secured the third position, earning $2.3 million from $33.5 million in total wagers.

In addition to sports betting, Pennsylvania’s total gambling revenue reached $483.0 million, a 7.3% increase from the previous year. While retail slots accounted for nearly 40.0% of the gambling revenue at $192.5 million, land-based table games also experienced a 2.0% year-on-year increase, reaching $81.5 million.

Louisiana Retains Significant Growth Potential

Meanwhile, Louisiana witnessed an outstanding surge in sports betting activities, reporting a record-breaking $308.6 million in sports wagering during October. This figure marked a 20.8% increase from the previous year, exceeding the state’s prior January 2023 record. Revenues also soared to an all-time high of $43.3 million, a remarkable 63.5% year-on-year surge. 

Louisiana sports wagering online gross revenue amounted to $40.1 million, while retail sportsbooks contributed $3.3 million. Football betting traditionally led the way, generating $7.3 million from online betting and $249,242 from retail. Baseball also proved popular, contributing $3.3 million in retail revenue and $437,224 in online revenue.

These results demonstrate Louisiana’s robust and growing market, showcasing the increasing interest and participation in sports wagering. Although the Pelican State does not yet offer regulated online gambling, sports betting’s impressive performance proves that taking the next logical step could create a thriving new industry. Even without iGaming, Louisiana represents significant potential as it remains on a promising trajectory for future growth.

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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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The Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the regulator in charge of overseeing sports betting and gambling in the state, has announced the sector’s financial results for the month of July 2023 and the numbers show a healthy increase in sports wagers.

Going Mobile

Sports wagers in Louisiana amounted to 134.8 million dollars in July, a figure which represents an increase of 14 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.

The best-performing sector was mobile sports betting, which attracted 122.5 million dollars in wagers during the month of July. That total represents an increase of 18.6 percent year-on-year. Baseball was the most popular sport for mobile bettors in Louisiana in July, it managed to attract wagers amounting to a total of 2.7 million dollars.

Retail sportsbooks in the state did not perform so well, in fact, they recorded a significant decline in July. The total wagers at retail locations was 19.4 percent lower compared to the financial results of July 2022, amounting to just 12.2 million dollars. In the case of retail sportsbooks most punters chose to play parlay bets, which attracted over 1.2 million dollars in wagers.

Casinos Register Downward Trend

Casino revenue in the state of Louisiana was not that great in the month of July, it registered a decrease both when compared to July 2022 and with June 2023. Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, the land-based venue which is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, reported gross gaming revenue of 17.5 million dollars in July 2023, 11.9 percent lower than the previous month and 22.8 less than what it recorded in July 2022.

Riverboat casinos in the state managed to bring in a total of 146.6 million dollars in adjusted gross revenue during the month of July. That was a good result considering that two riverboat casinos, one in Lake Charles and another in Bossier City, are currently closed.

Slot games located at the state’s racetracks reported slight increases in activity during July compared last month and last year. The Evangeline Downs racetrack registered the largest increase, with adjusted gross revenue going up by 7.3 percent to almost 6.5 million dollars.

Delta Downs was the best-performing racetrack in July when it comes to adjusted gross revenue, with a total amount of over 14.2 million dollars. Overall, total revenue from slot machines in Louisiana amounted to 27.6 million dollars, while the four racetracks in the state paid a total of 4.2 million in state tax.

Source: “Louisiana mobile sports betting wagers rise 18.6% year-over-year for July“. Gaming America. August 22, 2023.

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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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The Louisiana Illuminator reported that Louisiana’s casinos may soon be allowed to offer fixed-odds bets on horse racing, according to a proposal that advanced on April 17. 

Louisiana Horse Racing Association Shows Support for Fixed-Odds Betting Proposal

Fixed-odds betting would bring horse racing wagers in line with most other bets at sportsbooks, such as basketball or football games. Under fixed-odds betting, a bet placed with 5-to-1 odds would pay off at that rate no matter what subsequent bets are made on a race. Pari-mutuel bettors compete against each other, which can impact odds as more money is a bet on a horse.

The proposal has received support from the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, with executive director Ed Fenasci stating in an interview that it would attract a growing segment of gamblers to horse racing. 

The legislation also seeks to lower the share of fixed-odds profits that casinos forward to the state’s licensed racing association from 25% to 15% to encourage sportsbooks to participate.

The House Commerce Committee did not receive any opposition to the bill, and it was advanced without issue. If passed, it would mark a significant change for Louisiana’s horse racing industry and could potentially increase revenue for casinos and the racing association.

Louisiana Sportsbooks Profit $37M in December 2022

The Louisiana sports betting industry broke its record revenue in December 2022, bringing in $37 million, with the majority of the revenue generated by mobile sports betting, accounting for $30.5 million, while retail sports betting generated $6.4 million. 

This was the fourth time Louisiana sportsbooks had surpassed $30 million in a month, making it the highest-grossing month for the sports betting industry in Louisiana. Despite a decline in total handle, operators still managed to bring in a profit of $37 million due to a hold of 14% in mobile wagers and 18% in retail tickets, which marked a total win rate of 14.5%. 

Football was a significant contributor to the revenue generated by both mobile and retail sportsbooks in Louisiana, with mobile operators profiting $7.2 million, and retail operators profiting $2.9 million as a result of football-related bets. Even though the state’s revenue was lower in December than in both November and October, it still brought in over $4.3 million in taxes. The revenue loss reported in November was due to a massive payout of $75 million to Texas furniture mogul Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale after placing multiple high-stake bets on the Houston Astros winning the World Series. McIngvale’s major winnings resulted in a revenue decline of 206% in November.

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