New $270 million Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana ready for grand opening

The Cordish Companies announced Friday the highly anticipated grand opening of their new $270 million Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will take place on Feb. 13 (pending approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board).

Situated along the scenic Red River in Bossier City, and adjacent to Shreveport, the $270+ million facility will be a transformative development bringing economic opportunity and inclusivity to local residents.

“Starting today, guests can book reservations at the luxury Live! Hotel online at Louisiana.LiveCasinoHotel.com,” The Cordish Companies said in a company press release.

Tickets are also on sale now at AXS.com or Louisiana.LiveCasinoHotel.com for the inaugural lineup of entertainment at the new Event Center at Live!, featuring Walker Hayes (Feb. 28), The Commodores (March 7), Matt Mathews (March 8), and Clint Black (March 29).

Whether you're a sports fan, a foodie, a gaming enthusiast, or just seeking an unforgettable night out, “you'll find it all under one roof,” said John Chaszar, executive vice president and general manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. "We are so ready to go Live! in 2025 and deliver this top-tier gaming and entertainment experience that is unmatched by anything else in the four-state region.”

“We couldn't be more pleased to be able to put our beautiful new hotel rooms and show tickets on sale now, just in time for the holiday, so our future guests could surprise their loved ones with a night on the town at the hottest new gaming and entertainment destination in the Shreveport-Bossier market," said Joshua Robinson, vice president of Marketing at Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana.

Property Features

• 47,000 square feet of gaming space
• More than 1,000 slots and electronic table games
• Over 40 live-action table games
• Dedicated High Limits Room
• Industry-leading sportsbook
• Luxury, 12-story, 549-room Live! Hotel with resort-style pool and fitness center
• A 31-site RV park with concrete pads and full hookups
• 30,000 square feet of dining and entertainment options
• Resort pool and fitness center
• Event Center featuring 25,000 square feet of customizable meeting space to accommodate groups of 12 to nearly 1,200 guests
• Convenient access to parking with an attached multi-level structured parking facility and adjacent surface parking

Restaurant Lineup

The lineup of premier dining and entertainment options will include:

Sports & Social, the premier sports bar and restaurant in the United States offers guests an immersive sports entertainment atmosphere as the next best game-watching experience outside of a stadium or arena.

Born from the toughest sport on dirt, the iconic PBR Cowboy Bar lives up to its legendary namesake, Professional Bull Riders, which embodies toughness, determination, and a true spirit of independence.

Luk Fu (pronounced "Luck Foo"), is a vibrant Asian-themed restaurant featuring the traditional flavors of Southeast Asia.

The Prime Rib is renowned for luxurious fine dining and exceptional service in an environment of timeless sophistication.

Ridotto Grand Café, conveniently located adjacent to the hotel lobby, will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

VIP Play gains access to West Virginia iGaming market

Mobile gaming operator VIP Play, Inc. has agreed to terms with Delaware North to operate in West Virginia under Delaware North's Wheeling Island Casino license. The company is already operating in Tennessee as ZenSports.

Delaware North is a global hospitality and entertainment company with a significant gaming division, including a portfolio of regional casinos in eight states.

As part of the agreement, VIP Play will pay Delaware North a percentage of its online net gaming revenue during the term.

The new agreement with Delaware North marks the start of VIP Play's 2025 U.S. expansion efforts. The team expects to launch in West Virginia (pending regulatory approval) before the 2025 collegiate football season and in coordination with the development of the newly branded and designed VIP Play app, set to debut in Tennessee next year.

Bruce Cassidy, CEO and chairman of the board at VIP Play, said West Virginia is an ideal market for the company.

“We welcome the addition of online casino – "iGaming" – to our list of offerings within the U.S. and are excited to bring the VIP Play mobile app to West Virginia residents and visitors in 2025.”

New customers at ZenSports received a No Danger First Wager Up To $100. If your first bet loses, get it back as cash up to $100.

App Upgrade

In November, VIP Play announced they had signed a multi-year agreement with the Kambi Group to power their sportsbook growth in Tennessee and in future markets.

VIP Play (formerly known as KeyStar Corp.) acquired the assets of the ZenSports platform in 2022 and has operated in Tennessee as ZenSports since July 2023.

VIP Play will use Kambi Turnkey Sportsbook and its proprietary technology to build an entirely customized version of the Kambi platform compared to what is available in the industry today. The new upgrade is designed to deliver speed, stability, and flexibility in highly competitive markets across the globe.

Tennessee Sports Betting Revenue

Sports bettors in Tennessee are supporting the market with big numbers.

In November, the monthly sports gaming report from the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council showed the state handled a record-breaking $594 million in bets during the month. That total marks an 8.5% increase on the previous all-time high of $547 million set in October.

Pegasus Airlines orders 100 Boeing 737-10 MAX jets

On Thursday, Boeing and Pegasus Airlines announced that Türkiye's leading low-cost carrier will grow and modernize its single-aisle fleet with an order for up to 200 737 MAX airplanes. The airline's purchase includes a firm order for 100 737-10 jets – plus options for 100 more.

The largest model in the 737 MAX family, the 737-10 can carry as many as 230 passengers and has a range of up to 5,740 kilometers (3,100 nautical miles). It reduces fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces. “The airplane's efficiency and flexibility will enable Pegasus Airlines to serve more passengers on more routes with the lowest cost per seat of any single-aisle airplane,” Boeing said in a company press release.

Pegasus Airlines CEO Güliz Öztürk said the new aircraft will help the company open new routes.

"Boeing aircraft have been an integral part of our operations since Pegasus entered the aviation industry in 1990," Öztürk said. "We continue to invest in our fleet in line with our growth targets in Türkiye and globally, and to expand our network by launching new routes."

Ozturk added: "The first 100 aircraft are firm orders and we will be evaluating converting the remaining 100 aircraft options into firm orders in the coming years, based on market conditions and the needs of our fleet."

Pegasus Airlines launched operations with the Boeing 737 Classic nearly 35 years ago. The 737-10 will complement the airline's fleet of Next-Generation 737s by providing operational commonality and flexibility to meet growing travel demand.

The 737-10 will support Pegasus Airlines in reaching new markets across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook forecasts that European and Central Asian operators will take delivery of nearly 7,900 single-aisle airplanes over the next 20 years.

"When considered within the scope of Boeing's National Aerospace Initiative launched with the Turkish government in 2017, our order will also open new doors and create production and export opportunities both for Turkish manufacturers and for the wider aviation industry," said Öztürk.

Pegasus Airlines' purchase of 100 737-10 jets will bring the total orders of the 737 MAX variant to more than 1,200 jets.

Incorporated in 1990, Pegasus was acquired by ESAS Holding in 2005 and launched as a scheduled low-cost carrier. Pegasus carries its guests to 144 destinations, with 35 in Türkiye and 109 on its international network, in 53 countries.