The Louisiana Gaming Control Board recently approved a casino referendum to be held in St. Tammany Parish on December 11, the date set by Governor Jon Bel Edwards to give voters more time to recover from Hurricane Ida.
The vote would overturn a referendum held on November 5, 1996, in which 62 percent of the 70,507 participating voters rejected riverboat casino gambling. Since then, the number of registered voters in the suburban New Orleans parish has grown about 60 percent to 185,510.
If the referendum passes, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment LLC will move its gaming license to Slidell from its Diamond Jacks Casino in Bossier City. That venue was closed due to Covid-19.
P2E officials said the proposed $329 million Camellia Bay casino resort could open as soon as November 2023, pending voter approval. It would feature a 4-star hotel, marina, local and celebrity chef restaurants, swimming pools and a marina. Officials said it would generate an estimated $33.3 million in annual gaming tax revenue, giving local governments about $9 million. In addition, the facility would create 1,000 jobs with average annual pay of $45,000.
Although the issue will appear on the ballot, a lawsuit in St. Tammany Parish is challenging the election for alleged violations of the state constitution. The case will be heard before 22nd Judicial District Court Judge John Keller on November 2 and 3. A similar lawsuit was filed in Baton Rouge by a couple who lives near the proposed site. Motions in that case will be heard before 19th Judicial District Court Judge William Morvant on October 25.
In addition, the Slidell mayor, police chief, city council and St. Tammany Parish sheriff all oppose the casino.
