Construction begins on the Margaritaville Casino in Bossier City, La.

March 2, 2012 - 11:05 am

Construction began this week on a third Margaritaville casino, which join similar-themed casinos on the Strip and Biloxi, Miss.

The newest Margaritaville is in Bossier City, La., which will cost $197 million and is expected to open in the second half of 2013.

Bossier Casino Ventures LLC acquired Isle of Capri Casino’s gaming license for one of the company’s two casinos in Lake Charles, La., last year for $15 million. State gaming regulators gave the company permission to move the location to Bossier City, where the casino will compete with properties operated by Boyd Gaming Corp., Pinnacle Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment.

The Margaritaville Bossier City will have 1,75 slot machines and 38 table games. It will be located north of the Louisiana Boardwalk.

“The opening could amount to 10 percent additional gaming supply to that market,” said Union Gaming Group principal Bill Lerner. “However, given the limited relative exposure, we do not foresee a significant impact to earnings.”

Isle of Capri had two casinos in Lake Charles and will consolidate its operations onto the larger Grand Palais gaming vessel.

The Bossier City location will be the third and largest of the Margaritaville-themed casinos. In Las Vegas, Margaritaville rethemed a portion of the Flamingo’s gaming space near the Margaritaville restaurant into a casino.

The Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant Biloxi is expected to open by summer on the eastern tip of Biloxi’s Back Bay. The resort will have a 26,000 square-foot casino along with a marina with facilities for 12 vessels and tie-up space for an additional 30-40 boats.

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