May 4, 2021, 6:34 am ·
A bill that would bring a casino to the Louisiana City of Slidell on Monday hit another roadblock as its main sponsor, Sen. Sharon Hewitt, had to delay a Senate Finance Committee hearing and vote for the second time.
Sen. Hewitt said that she needs the yes vote of fellow Senate lawmaker Mike Fesi who has been absent for over a week. It became known that he tested positive for Covid-19 last Thursday.
SB 213 narrowly survived a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee a few weeks ago and now needs to pass the Finance Committee before heading to the full Senate floor.The piece was supposed to be heard in that second committee last week, but that did not happen due to Sen. Fesi’s absence.
Updated: 4:36 PM CDT April 25, 2021
NEW ORLEANS Louisiana lawmakers want to know where St. Tammany Parish residents stand on the notion of bringing a riverboat casino to the Northshore.
The Louisiana Senate Committee on Finance is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. Monday to discuss Senate Bill 213 before it s presented to Gov. John Bel Edwards for signing.
The bill calls for a referendum among St. Tammany Parish voters for a stance of bringing a casino to the parish. Planned for the Oct. 9 election, the referendum could be pushed back.
A share no larger than 5 percent of the casino s net gaming revenue would go to the parish in addition to economic support for drainage and recreation projects.
Casino license for closed DiamondJacks in Bossier City could be headed to Slidell Diamond Jacks closed in March of 2020 and never reopened. (Source: KSLA) By KSLA Staff | April 20, 2021 at 5:46 PM CDT - Updated April 20 at 7:23 PM
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KSLA) The casino license held by the now-closed DiamondJacks Casino could be going to south Louisiana.
The Advocate is reporting that a key state Senate panel has voted to move the license to St. Tammany Parish, but it would have to overcome a few hurdles first.
It must pass through the Louisiana Legislature, then St. Tammany residents would have to approve the casino location, and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board would have to okay it.
April 21, 2021, 10:14 am ·
The Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday narrowly passed a bill that would allow a locally licensed company to transfer its existing Bossier City casino license to St. Tammany Parish where it wants to develop a new casino.
The measure needs approval from state lawmakers and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as well as from parish voters.
Pacific Peninsula Entertainment, or P2E as the company is known, has unveiled plans to relocate its casino license and
develop a new gambling facility in Slidell, a city on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish.
The operator purchased DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City six years ago. It announced in May 2020 that the venue would close permanently
The closed DiamondJacks Casino Resort is seen locked up. Owners of the property and its Louisiana casino license hope to build a new gaming resort in Slidell. (Image:
KTBS)
Senate Bill 213, authored by Sen. Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell), narrowly passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday by a 4-3 vote.
If the bill passes the Senate and House of Representatives and is then signed by Gov. John bel Edwards (D), it moves to a public ballot. Voters in St. Tammany would be asked during the November 2021 election whether they wish to allow commercial gambling in the parish.
Only a simple majority support is needed to end the current prohibition that bans casinos within St. Tammany.