DEAL US IN: A history of riverboat gaming

Louisiana riverboat gaming legalized

Jul 18, 1991

LOUISIANA RIVERBOAT ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT AND GAMING CONTROL ACT
becomes effective. The legislation originally
restricted gaming to riverboats only and permitted the operation of 15 riverboats throughout the state.

Harrah's Casino opens in Shreveport

Apr 18, 1994

Nearly a year after the first riveboat casinos are licensed, Harrah's, located in what is now Sam's Town, is the first casino to open its doors in Shreveport-Bossier,

Isle of Capri opens in Bossier City

May 20, 1994

Isle of Capri, located in what is now DiamondJacks, opens in Bossier City.

Horseshoe Casino opens

Jul 7, 1994

Horseshoe opens its doors in Bossier City.

Casino Magic opens in Bossier City

Oct 4, 1996

Pinnacle Enterainment opens Casino Magic in Bossier City.

Hollywood Casino opens in Shreveport

Dec 20, 2000

Hollywood Casino opens its doors in Shreveport

Casino Magic changes to Boomtown

Jul 1, 2002

Pinnacle Eneterainment unveilsa $25 million overhaul to its riverboat casino complex in Bossier City, including a name change to Boomtown. The company renovated the pavilion, its restaurant-bar service and reconfigured the casino riverboat.
"We needed to be competitive in this market," Boomtown general manager Dale Darrough told the Associated Press at the time. "Our property was six years old and it was getting dated and tired. We needed to infuse some money into it."

Harrah's becomes Sam's Town

May 1, 2003

Harrah's sells its Shreveport casino to Boyd Gaming. The property becomes Sam's Town Casino.

Harrah's purchases Horseshoe

Mar 1, 2004

Harrah's purchases Horseshoe Casino from Jack Binion and the Louisiana Downs racetrack, which was originally opened in 1974 under the DeBartolo family.

Hollywood changes to Eldorado

Jul 20, 2005

Hollywood, after being put in bankruptcy in 2004, sells its Shreveport casino to family-owned Eldorado for $154 million.

Isle of Capri changes to DiamondJacks

Jul 31, 2006

Isle of Capri sells to Legends Gaming and changes its Bossier City casino to DiamondJacks.

Margaritaville Resort Casino opens

Jun 13, 2013

Developers Paul Alanis and William Trotter open Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City. The themed casino is located adjacent to the Bass Pro Shops and Outlets of Louisiana Boardwalk.