The closure of DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City, Louisiana has affected the state’s casino revenue, but state Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns expressed hope new owners would be approved and reopen the venue in 2024.
“The loss of DiamondJacks is absolutely affecting the market some,” Johns said. He stated the transfer of ownership of DiamondJacks to Foundation Gaming could be on the agenda of the gaming board’s December meeting.
Johns stated the state attorney general’s office and Louisiana State Police currently are evaluating Foundation Gaming’s credentials.
Besides the closure of DiamondJacks, Johns said the smoking ban, competition from Oklahoma casinos and the current state of the economy all are contributing to the decrease in gaming revenue. At the close of 2020, riverboat revenue in the Shreveport-Bossier City market totaled $425.85 million, dropping from $633 million the previous year due to Covid-19 closures. Johns said gaming revenue recovered somewhat in 2021, numbers for 2022 still are lower than last year.
For the first eight months of 2022, in the Shreveport-Bossier City market, revenue is down $38 million compared to the same period in 2018.
Still, Johns said, “We feel good about where we are overall.” He said mobile sports betting and football are helping to boost revenue.
