Board approves Live Casino and Hotel Louisiana's responsible-gaming program and authorizes chairman to clear opening

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board on Jan. 16, 2025 approved Louisiana Riverboat Gaming Company LLC doing business as Live Casino and Hotel Louisiana's responsible-gaming program and later approved the licensee's petition to commence gaming operations at its newly constructed riverboat landside facility, subject to specified conditions and outstanding certifications.

Assistant Attorney General Talibah McIntyre told the board the program was reviewed by the Louisiana Office of State Police Gaming Enforcement Division and by Don Pledger of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling; the licensee incorporated the agencies' recommended revisions and the program complies with applicable law (citing the Uniform Compulsive Gaming Act and relevant statute provisions referenced in the petition).

Representatives for the licensee, including Jeff Barban (counsel) and Cordish Gaming officials, told the board the property is slated to open Feb. 13, 2025, and that most non-gaming amenities would be complete by that date except for an outdoor pool complex. The licensee sought a temporary waiver to complete the outdoor pool at a later date; the petition requested an extension to Dec. 15, 2025 (the board-approved resolution extended the deadline and modified condition 6 of the statement of conditions to reflect the new pool completion date).

Because certain required documents remained outstanding at the time of the meeting (a fire marshal inspection report, architect's certificate of substantial completion, certificate of occupancy and other permits), the board authorized the chairman to accept those documents on the board's behalf and to determine substantial completion, issue a Riverboat Gaming Landside Facility Certificate of Compliance and approve commencement of gaming operations on the division's recommendation. The resolution also authorized the chairman to order the licensee to cease operations if post-opening deficiencies require correction and to permit recommencement only after the division determines corrections are satisfactory.

A motion to approve the responsible-gaming program was moved by Mr. Langley and seconded by Ms. Hamilton Acker; the petition to open the landside facility and the delegation of authority to the chairman were moved by Mr. Jackson and seconded by Ms. Lewis. Both measures passed on roll-call votes.