Business Report: Land Based Casino a likely possibility in Baton Rouge

quote:

---

A land-based casino in Baton Rouge?

Baton Rouge Business Report

Changes could be coming to how the state regulates casinos, and—should that happen—the Belle of Baton Rouge will likely get a makeover.

---

quote:

---

In a presentation before the task force this summer, Rodio even offered up renderings of what the large indoor atrium downtown could look like if he is allowed to move off the Mississippi River, where the current riverboat casino is docked. Belle officials couldn’t be reached for comment.

Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District, says whether the casinos move from one side of the levee to the other doesn’t matter much from his perspective, but it could be big for the Belle. Still, he would have an issue with land-based casinos expanding way off-site into other parts of downtown.

---

Probably a good idea. If you dislike gaming, there isn't really much of a difference on what side of the levee the Casino is based.

The casino operators in Shreveport and Baton Rouge are apparently waiting for the state to change the "vessel" requirement before they make any major changes. The Belle of Baton Rouge in particular has a lot of space that they could use for this new format in the Catfish Town Atrium.....and they are LONG overdue for a major update.

Thus far, the only land based casino (not on Indian reservation) allowed in the sate is in New Orleans.

Relocating the gaming area into a more open floor closer to the hotels (possibly directly adjacent) would be a good opportunity for the Casinos to create more higher profile structures and allow them to advertise entirely new casinos. That would probably be a good thing for tourism and tax revenue.