The Cordish Companies to acquire Diamond Jacks Casino in Louisiana, plans to open under Live! brand

The Cordish Companies announced last week the agreement to acquire Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Cordish intends to redevelop the property, which has been closed since March 2020, into a Live! casino resort and entertainment destination, including the construction of a land-based casino to replace the existing casino riverboat. The proposed project is subject to approval by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

This continues the company’s expansion across markets in the South Central and Southeast regions of the US. It currently has over $1 billion under construction adjacent to its Texas Live! development in the Arlington Entertainment District in North Texas, along with major new developments in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. 

Joe Weinberg, Managing Partner of the Cordish Companies, commented: “It is incredibly exciting for The Cordish Companies to make this announcement and to be working with Foundation Gaming & Entertainment on this new opportunity in Bossier City to bring our Live! brand to Louisiana for the first time.”

"We are committed to creating a world-class resort destination that brings first-class gaming, dining, entertainment and hospitality amenities to the region, creates significant new jobs, and generates millions of dollars in economic benefits for the community," he added.

Greg Guida, Co-CEO of Foundation Gaming & Entertainment, stated they are “thrilled to announce our agreement with The Cordish Companies and believe that the introduction of their Live! brand in the market will have tremendous impact on the entire northwest Louisiana Region.”For over a century, The Cordish Companies has created and managed a portfolio of upscale mixed-use, entertainment and casino resort destinations throughout the United States. Its Live! brand welcomes over 55 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 casinos such as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Florida; the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in Florida; Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland; Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia; and Live! Casino Pittsburgh.

Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group, said: “Our Live! casino resort and entertainment destinations around the country have set a gold standard for best-in-class operations and customer experiences.”

“The success of Texas Live! in the Dallas Fort Worth region gives us great confidence to continue growing our Live! brand across the South Central region. We look forward to working with Foundation Gaming & Entertainment to bring a new standard in quality and excellence to Bossier City with the first land-based casino in the market,” he concluded. 

Thomas  Chandler, Mayor of Bossier City, also expressed his views on The Cordish Companies as “one of the leading developers and operators of high profile mixed-use, entertainment and casino resort destinations in the country.”

Chandler said this project will not only attract millions of visitors to the city annually, it will also create substantial new jobs and generate additional significant tax revenue for the community.