Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana opens as first land-based casino in the Shreveport-Bossier
The Cordish Companies celebrated the highly anticipated grand opening of Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana, a $270+m resort destination marks the first land-side casino in the Shreveport-Bossier market. This milestone ushers in a transformative moment for gaming and hospitality in the four-state region.
It opened with over 47,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,000+ slots and electronic table games, 40+ live-action table games, and a DraftKings Sportsbook, alongside a 549-room upscale hotel with a resort pool and fitness center. There’s also 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue for concerts, meetings and conventions and 10 new food and beverage outlets.
The Sports & Social is home to the DraftKings Sportsbook – this high-energy sports bar offers an immersive game-watching experience with an 80-foot LED media wall, craft food and cocktails and interactive entertainment, plus a quick serve counter for those on the go. This is sure to become the go-to spot to watch favorite sporting events.
“Just over a year ago, we broke ground on what is now a world-class entertainment destination – a true game-changer for Bossier City. We are excited to bring the Live! brand to this region with this stunning property,” said Jon Cordish, Principal of The Cordish Companies. “With every detail thoughtfully designed to deliver a premier guest experience, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is set to become the cornerstone of excitement, hospitality, and economic growth for this region.”
The Cordish Companies were joined by key stakeholders including Louisiana State Senator Sam L. Jenkins, Jr., State Representative Steven Jackson, Bossier City Mayor Thomas Chandler, Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Christopher Hebert, Bossier Parish Police Juror Pam Glorioso, Bossier Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Johnson, Louisiana-native Professional Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed, and many community and business leaders from around the region to celebrate the opening. Together, the group ushered in a new era of gaming entertainment in Shreveport-Bossier with a traditional Mardi Gras style parade and Second Line, followed by a spectacular fireworks display for thousands of enthusiastic guests.
“It is truly an exciting time for the Shreveport-Bossier market and the entire Louisiana gaming industry as we open Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana to the public,” said Chris Hebert, Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. “It’s been some time since a new casino planted roots in our state, and already we are seeing the economic benefits with hundreds of job seekers finding employment. We look forward to many prosperous years with Live! Louisiana and The Cordish Companies.”
Strategically located along the Red River, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana offers seamless access from U.S. Highway 71 and Interstate 20, just 20 miles from the Texas border and 40 miles from Arkansas. This world-class destination brings new economic opportunities and an elevated entertainment experience to the region. The $270+m development is projected to generate $35m in gaming tax revenues for Bossier City and $168m for the State of Louisiana within the first five years, as well as $34m in annual salaries.
“Today is a monumental day for our city, community and region,” said Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler. “We have eagerly awaited this moment, knowing that Live! will bring an unparalleled level of entertainment excellence to Bossier City. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome the Live! brand, inviting both visitors and locals to experience the energy, excitement, and world-class entertainment that Louisiana Live! has to offer.”
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for entertainment and hospitality in Bossier City and the entire Ark-La-Tex region,” said John J. Chaszar, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. “Every detail, from our design to our world-class amenities, has been carefully crafted to deliver the ultimate entertainment experience. From the moment guests walk through our doors, they will be inspired by the spectacular venue we’ve created. Our team is second to none, attending to every detail and ready to create unforgettable memories for our guests.”
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is proud to generate over 1,550 new jobs, including 750 construction jobs and 800 permanent positions, while fostering economic growth through vendor partnerships. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is committed to hiring local residents through job fairs, community partnerships, and workforce development programs. Interested applicants can view open positions and apply on Louisiana.LiveCasinoHotel.com. The casino is committed to supporting local, minority, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses by providing valuable contract opportunities. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana actively partners with diverse, local businesses by maintaining a dedicated database of qualified contractors and suppliers for future bid opportunities.
With a long-standing history of philanthropy and corporate citizenship, The Cordish Companies are committed to becoming an integral part of the Bossier City community—not just as a business, but as a partner in its growth and success.
For over a century, The Cordish Companies has created and managed an extraordinary portfolio of upscale mixed-use, entertainment and casino resort destinations throughout the United States. Its Live! brand, highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country, welcomes over 60 million annual visitors to its dining, entertainment, casino, hotel, and sports-anchored entertainment districts, many of which have revitalized communities and reshaped the social and economic landscape of major markets across the country.
In gaming, The Cordish Companies has developed the most successful casino entertainment resorts in the U.S. including the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL; the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, FL; Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland; Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia; and Live! Casino Pittsburgh. The award-winning properties have been nationally recognized for excellence in operations, food and beverage offerings, and its Live! Rewards Loyalty Program, annually named one of the best casino loyalty programs in the country by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards.
The development of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana continues Cordish’s vast national expansion including the South Central and Southeast regions of the U.S. where over $1 billion of construction nears completion adjacent to its Texas Live! development in the Arlington Entertainment District in North Texas.
