Gaming board approves multiple five-year license renewals, a hotel rebrand and several settlements

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board on March 20 approved multiple licensing and enforcement items, including five-year renewals for Treasure Chest Casino and Fairgrounds Race Course and Slots, a one-year contract for the board’s hearing officer, a petition to rebrand the Belle of Baton Rouge hotel and a set of settlements and license transfers.

Why it matters: The board’s actions preserve operating certainty for two long-standing Louisiana gaming facilities, authorized a short-term hearing‑officer contract needed for administrative proceedings, and approved a rebrand and transfer actions that affect local employers and tax streams in Kenner, New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

The board first adopted a one‑year contract for the board’s administrative hearing officer, retired Judge Susan S. Ponder, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The staff memo showed the contract will not exceed $25,000 and sets out payment terms; legal counsel advised the contract meets statutory requirements under “Louisiana revised statute 27 25.” The motion was moved by Mr. Jackson and seconded by Miss Lewis; the roll call recorded all members present voting yes and the resolution carried.

Two five‑year license renewals were approved. Treasure Chest Casino LLC (doing business as Treasure Chest Casino, Kenner) received a five‑year renewal commencing May 18, 2025. Division auditors reported Treasure Chest has generated approximately $3.3 billion in gaming revenues since 1994 and paid $678 million in state gaming fees; the licensee invested about $128.6 million in property enhancements over recent years and reported plans for further improvements. Louisiana State Police suitability investigators reported no information that would preclude renewal. The motion passed on roll call with the members present voting yes.

Churchill Downs Louisiana Horse Racing Company, LLC (doing business as Fairgrounds Race Course and Slots, New Orleans) also received a five‑year renewal commencing April 18, 2025. Audit staff reported Fairgrounds has generated over $723.6 million in gaming revenues since 2004, paid roughly $110 million in state gaming fees, and invested roughly $7.3 million in property enhancements from 2020–2024. The Racing Commission certification required by Acts 530 and 525 was provided to the board; State Police suitability investigators reported no disqualifying information. The renewal was approved on roll call.

The board approved a petition by Catfish Queen LLC (the Belle of Baton Rouge) to operate its recently renovated hotel under the Bally’s Baton Rouge brand immediately and to rebrand gaming facilities to Bally’s upon substantial completion of the permanent landside casino project, subject to further approvals by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division. Company representatives (including Jeff Barban, Stacy Staggs and General Manager Richard Cannon) apologized to the board for failing to notify the division and the board before publicly installing hotel signage and asked for retroactive approval; the board granted the petition.

Video‑gaming and license‑transfer items approved by motion included: - The original application of Rose Casino 1 LLC (doing business as Rose Casino 1) for a Type 5 truck‑stop video draw‑poker license in St. Charles Parish (moved by Miss Becknell, seconded by Mr. Langley). Investigators reported the site meets video‑gaming truck‑stop criteria and no suitability issues were found. The application was approved by voice vote. - Approval of transfers of membership interest in Breaux Bridge Truck and Casino Plaza LLC (type‑5 license) after investigators found no information to preclude the transfers (moved by Miss Traylor, seconded by Miss Lewis). The board approved the transfers.

The board approved two settlements involving late submission of annual forms and fees: - Pablo’s Cantina LLC (Pablo’s Truckstop Casino, Type 6): civil penalty $1,500 for late annual forms and fees (settlement approved). - Aaron’s Investments, Inc. (doing business as Aaron’s, Type 2): civil penalty $1,500 for late annual forms and fees (settlement approved).

Finally, the board granted a motion to rehear a prior revocation of Royal Palace Investments, LLC’s Type 5 truck‑stop license and forwarded the matter to the hearing officer for an administrative hearing on the merits. The Division advised it does not oppose rehearing so the board could determine whether the licensee is now in compliance with filing and fee requirements.

Votes at a glance (motions and recorded outcomes): - Adopt hearing officer contract (Susan S. Ponder) — moved by Mr. Jackson; seconded by Miss Lewis; outcome: approved (roll call recorded as all present voting yes). - Renew Treasure Chest Casino riverboat license (5 years, effective 05/18/2025) — moved by Miss Traylor; outcome: approved (roll call recorded: Miss Becknell, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Langley, Miss Lewis, Miss Hamilton Acker, Miss Traylor, Chairman Abare — all yes). - Renew Churchill Downs / Fairgrounds slot license (5 years, effective 04/18/2025) — moved by Mr. Langley; outcome: approved (roll call recorded: Miss Becknell, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Langley, Miss Lewis, Miss Hamilton Acker, Miss Traylor, Chairman Abare — all yes). - Approve rebrand of Belle of Baton Rouge hotel to Bally’s Baton Rouge and authorize future casino rebrand upon substantial completion — moved by Miss Hamilton Acker; seconded by Miss Traylor; outcome: approved (roll call recorded: Miss Becknell, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Langley, Miss Lewis, Miss Hamilton Acker, Miss Traylor, Chairman Abare — all yes). - Approve Rose Casino 1 LLC Type 5 truck‑stop application — moved by Miss Becknell; seconded by Mr. Langley; outcome: approved (voice vote, no roll call recorded). - Approve transfers of membership interest in Breaux Bridge Truck and Casino Plaza LLC — moved by Miss Traylor; seconded by Miss Lewis; outcome: approved (voice vote, no roll call recorded). - Approve settlement: Pablo’s Cantina LLC — civil penalty $1,500 — moved by Miss Becknell; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve settlement: Aaron’s Investments, Inc. — civil penalty $1,500 — moved by Miss Hamilton Acker; seconded by Miss Traylor; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Grant rehearing request in Royal Palace Investments, LLC revocation matter — moved by Mr. Jackson; seconded by Miss Becknell; outcome: granted (roll call recorded: Miss Becknell, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Langley, Miss Lewis, Miss Hamilton Acker, Miss Traylor, Chairman Abare — all yes).

What the board did not do: The board did not revoke any active licenses at this meeting. The rehearing order sends the previously revoked Royal Palace matter back for an administrative hearing; no final decision on reinstatement was made today.

Context and next steps: Several approvals are conditioned on ongoing Division reviews and further approvals by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division (for equipment, signage and final rebranding steps). The hearing‑officer contract will enter the state contract review process as required. The board noted the next meeting location will move temporarily because of the legislative session.

Ending: The board adjourned after approving the motions and reminded members the April meeting will be held at the LaBelle Room in the LaSalle Building in downtown Baton Rouge due to the start of the legislative session.