Louisiana: Cordish appoints John J. Chaszar EVP and GM of Live! Casino set to open in Q1 2025, will house over 1K slots
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The Cordish Companies have announced the appointment of gaming industry veteran John J. Chaszar as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, a $270+ million "world-class" gaming, dining, hotel, And entertainment destination set to open in Bossier City in the first quarter of 2025.
In his new role, Chaszar will manage the development, grand opening, and day-to-day operations of the first land-based casino property in the Shreveport-Bossier market.
According to Cordish, Chaszar has had over three decades of gaming and resort operations experience and has held leadership positions with several notable entertainment and hotel companies across the country in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, and South Carolina.
He most recently served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Tropicana Casino in Evansville, Indiana, which had also transitioned from a floating to a land-based casino under his leadership. “Chaszar's experience with that transformation will be invaluable as the new land-based gaming facility takes shape at Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana” notes Cordish.
During his career, he spent more than a decade with Penn Entertainment as Vice President and General Manager at several of its properties including Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Hollywood Casino Resort in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Chaszar also spent over 13 years with Quorum Hotels and Resorts in leadership positions across eight different locations.
"As The Cordish Companies continue to expand, we are focused on building a team that can deliver the high standards of quality and excellence that have become synonymous with the Live! brand nationwide," said Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group, the gaming division of The Cordish Companies. "We are confident that under John's leadership, the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will become a premier destination offering first-class hospitality and entertainment, exceptional customer service, and generating millions of dollars in economic benefits for the Bossier City community for years to come."
When opened, Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana promises to offer a first-class gaming and entertainment experience featuring more than 47,000-square-feet of gaming space, including 1,000+ slots and electronic table games and 40+ live action table games; a sportsbook; an upscale 550-room hotel, resort pool, and fitness center; a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multi-purpose Event Center for entertainment, meeting, conventions, and social gatherings.
It will also house 30,000-square-feet of "best-in-class" dining entertainment venues including multiple new food and beverage outlets featuring nationally acclaimed concepts Sports and Social and PBR Cowboy Bar; and more.
The project is expected to generate $35 million in gaming tax revenues for the City of Bossier and more than $168 million in gaming tax revenues for the State of Louisiana within the first five years of operation. The Cordish Companies further stated that annually it will generate $34 million in salaries, wages, and tips, create approximately 750 new construction jobs and approximately 750 permanent gaming and hospitality jobs for local and regional residents.
The development is currently under construction on the site of the former Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel in Bossier City. "Located along the scenic Red River and directly across from Shreveport, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana has convenient access to U.S. Highway 71 and Interstate 20 and is approximately 20 miles from the Texas border and 40 miles from the Arkansas border," The Cordish Companies concluded.
