Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (GLPI) recently announced it received approval from the Louisiana Gaming and Control Board to move its Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge facility to a new $21 million to $25 million land-based facility, to be completed in early 2022. GLPI officials said the project would create 166 constructions jobs and have a regional economic impact of $500 million in its first six years of operation.
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge General Manager Jeannie Magdefrau said, “Our move landside will provide our current and new guests with a state-of-the art gaming and entertainment destination in the city. Further, by moving landside we can sell and/or move the boat to free up dock space so that we can increase visitation from what is an ever-expanding Mississippi River cruise business. We thank the Louisiana Gaming and Control Board for their support and look forward to getting to work on our new landside casino facility in the coming months.”
The new casino will offer indoor and outdoor gaming, a sports viewing area, meeting space and a 250-seat entertainment venue. Dining options will include a sports bar/restaurant and Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken Restaurant. Founded by former National Basketball Association and Louisiana State University basketball icon O’Neal, Big Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant offering fried chicken, barbecue and “adult milkshakes.” The first Big Chicken in Las Vegas in 2018 and a second location recently opened in California.
Currently Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge offers 29,000 square feet of gaming space and a 2-story dockside facility with restaurants, bars, VIP players’ lounge and event venue.
