Gaming Control Board renews BoomTown license, approves investor and ownership transfers and remands employee-permit appeal

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board at a public meeting in February 2025 renewed a casino license, approved an institutional‑investor designation, authorized two video‑gaming ownership transfers and approved a civil‑penalty settlement — and remanded an employee‑permit appeal for further consideration.

The matters were largely procedural and carried by recorded votes after staff and investigators presented findings supporting approval. The actions affect one commercial casino in New Orleans, two video‑poker licensees in DeSoto and Caddo parishes, a supplier permittee with an indirect investor, and the appeal of a revoked non‑key gaming employee permit.

Votes at a glance: the board took these formal actions during the meeting.

- BoomTown New Orleans license renewal: The board renewed the casino license of Louisiana 1 Gaming (doing business as BoomTown New Orleans) for a five‑year term beginning 03/22/2025, subject to previously placed conditions. The motion was moved by Ms. Lewis and seconded by Ms. Traylor; the roll call recorded unanimous "yes" votes by board members present and the motion carried.

- Institutional investor determination (North Creek Mezzanine Fund III LP): The board approved a resolution finding North Creek Mezzanine Fund III LP to be an "institutional investor" in connection with its indirect ownership interest in Ben Nelson Golf and Utility Vehicles LLC. The resolution notes North Creek's 15.417% indirect interest, its licensing under the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business Investment Company program, and characterizes North Creek as a passive investor; the board approved the resolution by motion and roll call.

- Transfer of membership interest — Logansport Truck Stop and Casino (WY Properties LLC): The board approved a transfer of membership interest in WY Properties LLC, which does business as Logansport Truck Stop and Casino (a Type 5 video draw poker licensee, DeSoto Parish). The filing showed that on Aug. 1, 2024, Piper Griffith transferred 25% membership interest to Toucan Gaming LLC, leaving LSM Gaming Inc. with 75% and Toucan with 25%. An investigator from the Louisiana State Police reported no information to preclude approval. The motion to approve was made by Mr. Jackson and seconded by Ms. Traylor; the motion carried.

- Transfer of membership interest — Flashback Casino (United Ventures Unlimited LLC): The board approved a transfer in United Ventures Unlimited LLC, d/b/a Flashback Casino (Type 5 video draw poker licensee, Caddo Parish). The filing showed that on June 19, 2024, Eric Stathis transferred his 50% membership interest to Toucan Gaming LLC, resulting in Toucan Gaming LLC and LSM Gaming Inc. each holding 50%. A Louisiana State Police investigator reported no information to preclude approval. The motion was moved by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Miss Becknell; the motion carried.

- Settlement — Coffee and Norco LLC: The board approved a settlement of $750 in a matter concerning Coffee and Norco LLC (Type 2 video draw poker licensee) for failing to timely submit its annual licensee form, fee and required documents. The division reported the licensee was notified electronically on March 13, 2024, and submitted the required forms and fee on Oct. 29, 2024; the hearing officer recommended a $750 civil penalty and the board approved the settlement.

- Appeal of revoked permit — Jokema Budwein: The board remanded the appeal by Jokema Budwein to the hearing officer for consideration of new evidence. The initial hearing officer had revoked Budwein's non‑key gaming employee permit based on a pending felony obstruction‑of‑justice charge (Louisiana Revised Statute cited in the hearing record) and testimony the division said showed the permittee interfered with law enforcement. At the board meeting, a motion to remand for the hearing officer to consider new information was moved by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Judge Scholes, and carried without opposition.

Details and context

BoomTown New Orleans: Assistant Ms. Landry read a prepared resolution stating the board considered the license‑renewal application of Louisiana 1 Gaming (a Louisiana partnership in commendam doing business as BoomTown New Orleans) and, upon motion, renewed the license for five years commencing March 22, 2025, subject to previously imposed conditions. The resolution was adopted by roll call. The board record shows the renewal was carried by affirmative votes from members present.

North Creek institutional‑investor determination: Board staff and the division described statutory bases for institutional‑investor classifications, citing provisions of Louisiana law cited in the record. The staff summary states North Creek is a mezzanine debt and equity fund licensed through the U.S. Small Business Administration as an SBIC (regulation cited in the record as 13 C.F.R. part 107) and holds a 15.417% indirect ownership interest in Ben Nelson, which holds a non‑gaming supplier permit. The division and the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division reported that North Creek would be a passive investor without management responsibilities, voting rights or operational control, and recommended approval. The board adopted a resolution determining North Creek to be an institutional investor while retaining authority to investigate suitability should new disqualifying facts arise.

Transfers in video gaming: For both the Logansport Truck Stop and Flashback Casino transfers, Louisiana State Police investigators reported updated suitability investigations and said they found no information that would preclude approval. The filings in the record identify Toucan Management LLC as the sole member of Toucan Gaming LLC and name Stan Giedros (spelled in the record as Stan Giedross/Gidross/Giedros in different places) as the sole member of Toucan Management LLC; the board approved both transfers by vote.

Coffee and Norco settlement: The division presented that the licensee was notified on March 13, 2024, to submit the annual licensee form and supporting materials by July 1, 2024, but did not submit them until Oct. 29, 2024. The division and the hearing officer recommended a $750 civil penalty for the late filing; the board approved the settlement by motion and vote.

Appeal remand: The division summarized the hearing officer's prior determination to revoke Ms. Budwein's non‑key gaming employee permit based on a pending felony charge and testimony that the permittee's conduct raised public‑interest concerns and impaired effective regulation. At the board meeting, a board member asked the division to consider newly submitted material; the board moved to remand the matter to the hearing officer for consideration of the additional evidence and the motion carried.

What the board did not decide

The board's actions were limited to the items on its agenda: license renewal, institutional‑investor determination, membership transfers, a civil‑penalty settlement, and procedural disposition of an appeal. The board's resolutions and approvals were conditioned as stated in the meeting record; staff noted in at least one item that the board retains the authority to investigate or revisit suitability determinations if new facts emerge.

Meeting context

The meeting record shows staff presentations and investigator reports preceded votes on each matter. Most items generated no extended public discussion at the meeting; several motions were carried without recorded opposition. The matters are regulatory and administrative in scope, affecting license status, ownership reporting and disciplinary settlement.

Ending

The board adjourned after taking the actions above. Several board members and staff were identified in the meeting record; the board asked staff and enforcement divisions to continue oversight as required by law and the board's adopted resolutions.