Posted on: November 8, 2024, 11:29h.
Last updated on: November 8, 2024, 11:35h.
Hundreds of casino jobs are available in Louisiana’s Bossier City as The Cordish Companies nears the opening of its $270 million overhaul of the former Diamond Jacks property.
Cordish plans to open Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana in the first quarter of 2025. In anticipation of the new land-based casino and revamp of the resort and hotel, Cordish says it needs to fill about 750 positions.
We are building an exceptional team at Live! Louisiana. Whether you’re a seasoned industry professional or looking to start a new career, now is the perfect time to apply,” John Chaszar, executive vice president and general manager of Live! Louisiana, told Casino.org. “Our goal is to hire a diverse group of talented team members and provide them with the training and development opportunities needed to succeed.”
Chaszar says there’s a job for everyone. The list of openings includes an array of roles, including hotel and gaming operations, finance, marketing, human resources, information technologies, food and beverage, facilities, security, and surveillance.
Both full-time and part-time positions are being offered in all departments and all shifts, Chaszar added.
Cordish says its Live! Louisiana workforce is projected to receive $34 million a year in salaries, wages, and tips, or about $45,333 per employee on average. According to the US Census Bureau, the average worker in Bossier City made less than $30,800 in 2022.
“This will have a tremendous impact on both individual livelihoods and the regional economy,” Chaszar said.
Market Turnaround
Cordish and state officials at the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) hope the company’s $270 million investment in the Bossier City/Shreveport gaming market can help turn it around.
During the state’s 2024 fiscal year (July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024), gross gaming revenue (GGR) won by the five operating casinos in Bossier/Shreveport was approximately $517.7 million. Before the pandemic, the market’s GGR in 2019 totaled more than $626.4 million. In 2016, GGR was even higher at nearly $667 million.
Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, which closed Diamond Jacks permanently during the pandemic, told state officials the market was oversaturated and no longer viable for reinvestment. Diamond Jacks fell into a state of disrepair until Cordish snagged the property, sold off the aged riverboat, and successfully petitioned the LGCB for permission to construct a new brick-and-mortar casino.
Last fall, Ronnie Johns, the longtime chairman of the LGCB who retired in May after nearly four decades, said Cordish was a best-case scenario for the Diamond Jacks revitalization.
“Cordish has an exceptional reputation in providing first-rate casino experiences, as well as hospitality and entertainment venues across the country,” Johns said in October 2023.
Coming Attractions
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana’s new land-based casino spans 47K square feet and includes over 1,000 slot machines and electronic table gaming positions, 40 live dealer tables, and a sportsbook.
All 550 hotel guestrooms are being renovated, as is the resort pool in front of the hotel and the property’s fitness center. The 25K square feet of meeting rooms and 30K square feet of restaurant spaces are additionally being updated. Cordish is also building an RV park with paved concrete pads and full hookups.
