Shreveport may try to land New Orleans riverboat

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHREVEPORT, La. -- If Louisiana's final riverboat casino license does not bring another gambling hall to Shreveport, the city hopes to convince a riverboat in New Orleans to move.

Horseshoe Entertainment is one of three applicants for the license. The company, which has a casino complex in Bossier City, hopes to put a riverboat on the Shreveport side of the Red River.

Mayor Keith Hightower does not consider that the only option.

"If we don't get the 15th license, we may see if one of the New Orleans riverboats is interested in relocating," Hightower said.

The mayor said he has not contacted any of the three New Orleans-area boats, but it's an idea that has been at least lightly entertained by Bally's, which is located on Lake Pontchartain and is partly owned by Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas.

Bally's generally has the third-lowest revenue of the Louisiana riverboats and the two casinos below it are both part of two-boat complexes in Lake Charles. Bally's also competes with Harrah's land casino in New Orleans.

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