Louisiana regulators OK Ameristar acquisition
Louisiana on Thursday approved the $32.5 million acquisition by Ameristar Casinos of Creative Casinos, setting the stage for construction of a $500 million hotel-casino in Lake Charles.
In a statement, Las Vegas-based Ameristar said it would begin construction of the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Lake Charles the week of July 16 on the 242-acre site, before the July 20 deadline under license conditions approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Ameristar plans a casino with 1,600 slot machines and 60 table games, a 700-room hotel, several restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, a tennis club, swimming pools, a spa, other resort amenities and 3,000 parking spaces.
Las Vegas-based Creative was the original developer of the project, which is Louisiana's last remaining riverboat gaming license.
"We look forward to building a premier property that will further distinguish Lake Charles as a true resort destination serving southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas, including the Houston metropolitan area," Ameristar CEO Gordon Kanofsky said in a statement.Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter
