Following an unannounced quiet opening the night before, the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino Lake Charles in Louisiana officially opened on December 8, with yellow-outfitted showgirls flanking Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, chairman and chief executive officer of Fertitta Entertainment Inc., and other Louisiana state and local officials who cut the ribbon on the 0 million, 1.3 million square foot property, the fifth under the Golden Nugget brand. Guests explored the innovative casino floor with 70 table games, a state-of-the-art poker room and 1,600 of the world’s newest slot machines. The facility also offers 740 luxury hotel rooms and suites, which were sold out on opening night; 18-hole championship golf course; world-class spa; extensive retail options; 18,000 square foot ballroom; 30,000 square feet of meeting space; one-of-a-kind pool; private beachfront and marina; and a number of Landry’s signature restaurants.
Fertitta, whose parents were from Louisiana, called the Lake Charles property “the most unique gaming opportunity in America. Golden Nugget Lake Charles is like no other gaming resort offering a first-class, Las Vegas-style atmosphere right here in the South. We know our strong Texas and Louisiana customer base will enjoy having these unbeatable, luxury amenities closer to home. Our Vegas, Laughlin, Atlantic City and Biloxi properties, each required a dramatic renovation and rebranding, whereas Lake Charles is our first ground-up development and articulates our style through and through.”
The Golden Nugget Lake Charles is located just two hours or more from Houston, San Antonio and Austin, three of the largest, top-tier markets in Texas, which generate about 65 percent of the gaming revenue in Lake Charles. Fertitta previously said 50,000 of the 60,000 people who applied for players’ cards before the opening casino are from Texas. “I look at Louisiana and Texas almost as one. You don’t notice when you cross the line and people are the same. It’s in the South, everyone’s nice,” Fertitta said.
Golden Nugget offers seven Landry’s, Inc. restaurants, including Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Grotto Italian Ristorante, Lillie’s Asian Cuisine, Saltgrass Steak House, Claim Jumper Restaurant, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar and Landry’s Seafood House. Also, five bars and lounges include Ice Bar, Bar 46, Blue Martini, Rush Lounge and H20 Pool & Ultra Lounge. The Clubhouse at the 18-hole championship golf course, opening in April 2015, will offer a full-service restaurant and lounge. The Spa and Salon includes a state-of-the-art fitness center with luxurious men’s and women’s facilities and relaxation lounges.
Also on the premises, the 18,000 square foot, 2,000-seat Grand ballroom will hosts a variety of live entertainment and concerts. The first performer will be country superstar LeAnn Rimes on January 17, followed by country legends Merle Haggard on January 31 and Alabama on February 6.
The property also offers 30,000 square feet of meeting space to accommodate gatherings of all sizes. For waterfront entertainment, Golden Nugget offers a unique Vegas-style pool plus a private beach and marina.
Eight boutiques and gift shops are located throughout the hotel and along the Shopping Promenade, offering fashionable apparel and accessories plus souvenirs and branded items, including brands such as Tommy Bahamas, Michael Kors, Lucky Brand and Nanette Lepore.
Fertitta took over Golden Nugget casino and hotel properties in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada nine years ago. He later bought and rebranded a Trump casino resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey and most recently opened a casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Golden Nugget Casinos is a division of Landry’s, a private company owned solely by Fertitta.
Fertitta acquired the Golden Nugget from then-owner Ameristar Casinos last year. When the property became available, he flew to Vegas and offered a $50 million nonrefundable deposit to acquire it. Golden Nugget joins Pinnacle Entertainment’s L’Auberge du Lac, to which it soon will be connected by a boardwalk, and Isle of Capri in Lake Charles. Less than 30 miles in either direction are the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder and the Delta Downs racetrack in Vinton. The Isle of Capri and L’Auberge report that 77 percent of their 4.3 million customers come from 150 miles away or from another state, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Chad Beynon said the Lake Charles market continues to attract visitors but questions whether more casinos were necessary, noting Pinnacle Entertainment had a chance to buy the Golden Nugget location a few years ago but decided not to. Keith Henson, senior vice president and general manager at L’Auberge, which opened in 2005, said Pinnacle has invested $100 million in the last three years, remodeling the 1,000-room hotel and adding retail and restaurants. “We are a total-destination resort and we really put Lake Charles on the map,” Henson said.
Wade Duty, executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association, said,
“What you will see with the Golden Nugget is the largest effort to date to bring Vegas-style packaging to this state. They definitely spared no expense and aimed high for what they want to accomplish.”
The new Golden Nugget brings Louisiana’s total casinos to 16, plus the state has four racinos.
