Peninsula Pacific, owners of the DiamondJacks riverboat casino in Bossier City, Louisiana, recently announced they may move the facility to the Tangipahoa River, just south of Interstate 12. Moving the license would require approval of voters in Tangipahoa Parish, the legislature and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Gaming board Chairman Ronnie Jones said, “This is a long process, and this is only the first step. We will do what’s in the best interest of the state and fulfill the legislative policy of promoting economic development. That’s what riverboat gaming is supposed to be about, economic development.”
A task force headed by Jones recently recommended changing state law to allow riverboat casinos to move onto land within 1,200 feet of their approved berthing site, and to replace the 30,000 square foot gambling space limitation with 2,365 positions.
Los Angeles-based Peninsula Pacific Manager Brent Stevens said the company also could renovate the property and keep it in Bossier City. Either way, the company would invest $100 million, he said. “Louisianans deserve the best and we look forward to creating a destination that is both fun, successful and rewarding to the community and the state. In either of these two locations, we will be able to create economic development and drive revenue into critical public sectors like infrastructure, education and quality of life.” Stevens added, “We want the public involved in every step of this project, and we want to ensure all Louisianans that this will be an open and transparent process.”
He said a Tangipahoa venue could create 2,000 construction jobs and more than 500 permanent jobs.
Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller has met several times with Peninsula Pacific officials. He said, “This $100 million investment in our community could create hundreds of jobs and an economic stimulus that would ripple throughout the parish. This project deserves our interest and attention. A quality project like this could also provide new, much-needed revenue for our schools, infrastructure and drainage programs.”
DiamondJacks is one of six casinos in Shreveport-Bossier. The racino Louisiana Downs also operates in the area. Peninsula Pacific, which acquired DiamondJacks’ license in 2015, previously said the Bossier City casino and hotel needed improvements.
Stevens said Peninsula Pacific is considering the Tangipahoa Parish site because it’s an ideal location for a premium destination and potentially could attract significant numbers of visitors from neighboring communities and states. The Tangipahoa site is about 100 acres; the company would have to purchase several individual properties to combine into one property.
Public notices indicate two bills will be introduced in the state Senate during the regular legislative session, beginning March 12. One bill would authorize a referendum in Tangipahoa Parish allowing a riverboat licensed for gaming activities to operate at a berth or docking facility on the Tangipahoa River. Another bill would require parish voters to approve adding part of the river to a list of waterways where riverboat gaming is allowed.
Peninsula Pacific has launched a program, Community Conversations, to communicate directly with residents, stakeholders and community leaders regarding various aspects of the proposed casino facility. The Facebook page is titled Community Conversations Louisiana.
In 2003, Peninsula Pacific opened Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas.
