Harrah's Going for Second Shreveport Casino

Earlier this week, Harrah's announced plans to build a $50 million hotel near its existing riverboat.

Three boats now operate on the Red River at Shreveport-Bossier City: Harrah's on the Shreveport side, and the Horseshoe and the Isle of Capri on the Bossier side. In addition, Casino Magic has been licensed to open a boat on the Bossier side.

State law limits the total number of riverboats to 15. Fourteen are taken.

Harrah's will make the Aug. 15 license application deadline set by state regulators, Anthony Sanfilippo, Harrah's general manager in Shreveport, said Wednesday.

Shreveport officials and Harrah's are currently negotiating to decrease boarding fees. That would be tied to Harrah's surrendering its exclusive right to have a casino on downtown riverfront property.

Louisiana Casino Cruises has applied for a competing boat in Shreveport.

Six other companies have applied for the one remaining license, including Horseshoe Entertainment, which also wants a second boat in Bossier City. Isle of Capri has another riverboat in Bossier City, while Casino Magic has been licensed to open a third boat in the city.

The license, which will be for the 15th and final riverboat allowed in Louisiana by state law, came open when Circus Circus abandoned a project in the New Orleans suburb of Chalmette.

Officials from one of the applicants, Golden Nuggett, said the company is no longer interested in putting a riverboat in Bossier City. Mirage Resorts, Golden Nugget's parent company, has decided to concentrate on a casino resort in Biloxi, Miss., said company spokesman Julian Read.

State regulators have said that Caesars World, which has no gambling properties in Louisiana, also have expressed interest in applying for the vacant license. However, company officials said no decision has been made on whether to seek the license.

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