Mixed compliance: several riverboats, racetracks fail employment or procurement goals in Q2 reports

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Lewis Jr. presented employment and procurement compliance figures for riverboat and racetrack licensees for the second quarter of 2025 on Aug. 21. Lewis said approximately 9,700 people were employed by the riverboat industry in 2025; of those, 9,503 were Louisiana residents, 6,070 were minorities and 5,204 were women. He reported that four riverboat licensees achieved total compliance this quarter: Boomtown New Orleans; Horseshoe Lake Charles; LaBerge Baton Rouge; and Margaritaville. "Six licensees did not meet their total employment goals," Lewis said, listing Sam's Town Hotel and Casino (364 of a goal of 385), Harrah's Bossier City (529 of 550), Belle of Baton Rouge Casino (187 of 350), the Queen Baton Rouge (362 of 375), Amelia Belle Casino (163 of 165) and Valley Shreveport (529 of a goal of 625). Lewis also noted subcategory shortfalls: Treasure Chest achieved 50.2 percent of its female-employment goal (51 percent target) and LaBerge Lake Charles achieved 49.4 percent of its female-employment target (51.86 percent target). On procurement, Lewis said Golden Nugget Lake Charles missed the Louisiana procurement goal (58.8 percent achieved of a 65 percent goal). Under minority procurement, he reported Live Casino at 3.7 percent of a 10 percent goal, the Queen Baton Rouge at 12.1 percent of a 13 percent goal, and BoomTown Bossier City at 12.2 percent of a 13 percent goal. For female procurement, Live Casino was at 6.3 percent of a 10 percent goal and Golden Nugget Lake Charles at 13 percent of a 15 percent goal. Turning to racetracks, Lewis said about 1,377 people were employed in the racetrack casino industry for 2025, with 1,137 Louisiana residents, 755 minorities and 751 women. He said Evangeline Downs and Fairgrounds achieved total compliance; Delta Downs did not meet its Louisiana employment condition (59.5 percent achieved of an 80 percent condition), and Louisiana Downs did not meet its female employment condition (52.6 percent of a 60 percent condition). Lewis said all racetrack licensees met minority employment conditions and that all racetracks met procurement goals this quarter. Board members asked no follow-up questions after Lewis' presentation.