August 19

In New Orleans, the Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. is thinking about moving a riverboat casino from Lake Charles to the New Orleans Area. It is said that they have already signed a least option for property located on the Mississippi River.

Tuesday, the company stated that the property is owned by American Commercial Barge Lines, a very large shipping company herein the United States. The location of the would-be site for the Lake Charles riverboat is right near the rather large Huey P. Long bridge outside of Downtown New Orleans.

A company spokesperson for the Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. stated that this deal is not yet completed. It is simply in the process of happening. The company is thinking of moving one of the two riverboats they operate in Lake Charles, the Crown. The Louisiana State Gaming Control Board still has to approve of the move in a referendum of Jefferson County voters.

The boat is operating in the very competitive area of Lake Charles. Lake Charles already has four riverboat casinos in action. Also, there are land venues nearby including a slot machine casino inside the Delta Downs racetrack in Vinton and an Indian casino in Kinder.

With a highly anticipated casino resort (costing a cool $365 million) being built in Lake Charles next year by Pinnacle Entertainment, it is felt that too much competition would be detrimental to the riverboat. In the New Orleans area, which has many more residents (and a larger market), the river boat would be competing with Harrah's in Downtown New Orleans and three other riverboats already there.