Legislation granting Harrah’s New Orleans a 30-year casino license passed the Louisiana Senate in a 27-10 vote. Senate President John Alario reversed his position from last year, when the measure died on the legislative session’s final day. At the time Alario said lawmakers could not be sure the state would benefit from the deal.
This year’s version, HB 544, extends Harrah’s license until 2054 and authorizes Harrah’s to add restaurants and build a second hotel with meeting space. In return, Harrah’s will invest $325 million to build the new 340-room hotel and upgrade its existing facilities, and also has agreed to pay tens of millions of additional dollars over 30 years to the state, which awards the license, and to the city, which owns the casino site.
HB 544 will not allow Harrah’s to expand its 125,000 square feet of gambling space. Harrah’s officials said the project will create 600 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs.
Besides dedicating money for cancer research, HB 544 also directs more money for problem gambling services, rural water projects, New Orleans infrastructure and early childhood education. The city of New Orleans also will receive $19.5 million in a one-time payment from Harrah’s over three years.
HB544 now goes to Governor John Bel Edwards who said he will sign it into law.
