In a unanimous vote, the Louisiana Gaming Board approved California-based Pacific Peninsula Entertainment’s request to relocate its riverboat casino from Bossier City to Slidell in Tammany Parish, where the company plans to build the $329 million Camellia Bay casino resort. P2E closed its DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City in May 2020 due to Covid-19. P2E officials said construction could begin as early as 2022 and be completed in a year. “We’ve been looking forward to this moment for literally years,” said P2E Founder Brent Stevens.
However, before a new casino can open, parish voters need to reverse in an election referendum a 1996 law prohibiting gambling. Also, the state bond commission must approve that election referendum. The parish council has approved placing the casino question on the November 13 ballot but Governor Jon Bel Edwards moved that to December 11 due to Hurricane Ida recovery.
According to the resolution passed by the board, if St. Tammany voters reject the casino, P2E would have 60 days to reopen DiamondJacks in Bossier Parish.
Under an agreement with P2E, St. Tammany’s Economic Development District would receive 5 percent of the casino’s net revenue, an estimated $153 million in the first year, which would direct $32.9 million to the state and $7.6 million to the parish. It would create 1,000 new jobs.
At the board meeting where approval was granted, the only opponent was attorney Scott Jones, representing Chandler and Jason Goltz from Slidell. The couple filed a lawsuit in the 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge against relocating the casino, which would be within 750 yards from their home.
Two previous lawsuits aimed at stopping the election were consolidated and are working their way through the 22nd Judicial District Court in Covington.
