Could a move by a southern Louisiana Casino signal a gaming trend in the state? The Treasure Chest in Kinder is transitioning from a riverboat casino to a land-based gaming facility.
The casino is the third in the state moving to land, which includes the Horseshoe in Westlake and the Hollywood in Baton Rouge, which plans to transition to a land-based venue this fall. The Treasure Chest is owned by Boyd Gaming and the additions offer a major expansion of the casino.
“Construction began in February on a $100 million project that will nearly double the Treasure Chest’s gambling space, incorporate four restaurants and create almost 10,000 square feet of flexible space for conventions, meetings or live entertainment,” NOLA.com notes of the project. “In May, the builders held a topping off ceremony, to mark placement of the final steel beam, and now are moving to enclose, equip and furnish it.”
In other news, gamblers in New Hampshire may soon have another casino option as well. These two news properties show how more states are seeing gaming expansion and property upgrades in recent years.
Leaving Riverboats Behind
Louisiana is home to 13 riverboat casinos and a large land-based Harrah’s casino in New Orleans.
Casino gaming on up to 15 boats was legalized in 1991. The law originally meant for boats to sail regularly as part of doing business, but that never really happened.
Most boats sat moored on rivers or other bodies of water, making them more accessible to guests. In 2001 the state did away with the caveat that boats must actually move. In 2018, the state also began allowing the venues to shift onto land.
That move offered more options for casino properties, such as the case with Treasure Chest. While properties in Shreveport/Bossier City and Lakes Charles appeal to visitors from Texas, the Treasure Chest mostly brings in locals. The property has only one restaurant and no major amenities such as a golf course or hotel like other Louisiana properties.
The new facility will be built in the casino’s current parking lot and plans call for an official opening in spring 2024. Treasure Chest officials now hope the move to land adds to its appeal among local players, offering more of a one-stop destination for gaming, cuisine, entertainment, and more.
“We’re just excited to be on land,” Treasure Chest marketing director Rodney Miller told NOLA.com. “We’re happy to be in Kenner, to be where we are. We’re a neighborhood casino.”
New Hampshire Approves New Casino in Concord
Gamblers in the Granite State can look forward to a new full-scale casino project in Concord. The city recently approved a plan for the new property, which is being spearheaded by Andy Sanborn, a former Republican state senator.
“Sanborn, who already owns and operates a bar and adjacent casino in downtown Concord, said the new facility, tentatively named the Imagine Casino, would have table games, a poker room, slot machines, as well as entertainment options,” New Hampshire Public Radio reported.
Concord is located in the southern half of the state, about 20 minutes north of Manchester, and has a population of about 44,000. The new casino property would be located on the city’s eastern edge close to the intersection of Route 106 and Interstate 393, according to media reports.
Sanborn also plans for an on-site restaurant, live music venue, brewery, and possibly a distillery as part of the Imagine project. The new casino may also be outfitted with a tentative sportsbook. The state legalized sports wagering in 2019, but local voters have yet to approve the option in the city. Sanborn already owns The Draft Sports Bar and Concord Casino on Main Street in the city.
New Hampshire’s gaming market is a bit different than most states. Properties are based on a charitable gaming model with gambling “donations” funding nonprofit groups and schools all across the state each year.
“In 2006, House Bill 1744 was enacted, allowing casinos in New Hampshire to operate with the obligation that 35% of their gross gaming revenue be donated to charity and 10% to the New Hampshire Lottery to support public education,” West Lebanon Valley News notes.
“Charities are sponsored by casinos on a rotating schedule. Most casinos in New Hampshire will sponsor a charity for seven to 10 days, with 10 being the maximum number of days allowed for any given charity.”
The properties appear similar to regular casinos, however, with historic horse racing games (slot-like games based on historical horse races), table games, poker, and more. In 2022, casinos in the state sent more than $17.7 million to charitable groups, according to the New Hampshire Lottery..
