Caesars cut the ribbon on expansions at a pair of its Louisiana properties this week. The Horseshoe Bossier City opened a new sportsbook and Harrah's New Orleans opened both a sportsbook and a World Series of Poker-themed poker room.
Caesars is undergoing a large-scale revamp at the moment with the Bally's sign coming down in Vegas to make room for the new Horseshoe lettering. The company also opened a new WSOP poker room in Virginia, and has plans to convert another Caesars property in the state (The Isle of Capri Lake Charles) into another Horseshoe property.
Dan Real is the Regional President of Caesars Entertainment. Real announced that this would be "a special week for Caesars and [its] longstanding commitment to Louisiana."
Real added, "The opening of our world-class Caesars Sportsbook locations and the new World Series of Poker Room add to the legacy that Harrah's New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City have built in the Gulf Coast region. We're ready to welcome sports fans into our sportsbooks, and we're proud to open the largest poker room in Louisiana, true to the WSOP brand and what it represents."
Opening ceremonies
The Bossier City sportsbook opened its doors in a ceremony presided over by the town mayor, Tommy Chandler. A local VIP placed the first bet, valued at $200,000. The Caesars press release did not expand on who the VIP was, nor what they bet on.
In New Orleans, things were a bit more transparent.
Former New Orleans Saint Rickey Jackson opened the poker room and placed the first bet at the sportsbook, a $1,000 on the Saints to take down the Superbowl. He got odds of +4,000. If he wins, Jackson's $40,000 profit will go straight to the United Negro College Fund. The UNCF provided financial assistance to black students in the U.S.
Jackson was accompanied at the opening by Archie and Cooper Manning, Saints Superfan Leroy Mitchell Jr., and local dignitaries.
"These incredible openings are a testament to Louisiana residents, our Team Members and the guests who visit these historic resorts," Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, told the press. "We truly feel like we're part of the home team in Louisiana, and we take pride in serving the great customers and sports fans in the state.
"From our Caesars Sportsbook app to our retail sportsbooks and now our elevated World Series of Poker Room, we embrace the opportunity to provide guests with even more unforgettable experiences."
The new poker room at Harrah's New Orleans will be the biggest in the state, with 20 poker tables. This means, Louisiana poker players, it's time to shuffle up and deal.
Featured image source: Caesars Entertainment
