Skip to content
Gaming Evolution Unveiled — industry — Spin to Win! — Unveil Today's Hottest Gaming Trends!

DiamondJacks Casino Closes Permanently After COVID-19 Financial Blow

A once-bustling riverboat casino falls victim to the pandemic's economic toll. What does this mean for Louisiana's struggling gaming industry and its workers?

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
The image shows a graph depicting the number of businesses in the U.S. who have been affected by...
The image shows a graph depicting the number of businesses in the U.S. who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the text indicating that the economy is recovering from the pandemic. The graph is divided into two sections, one for recovery and one for economic recovery, and each section is further divided into subsections, each representing a different industry. The text on the left side of the image provides further information about the data, such as the total number of companies affected and the total economic recovery.

DiamondJacks Casino Closes Permanently After COVID-19 Financial Blow

DiamondJacks Casino and Hotel in Bossier City will close for good after struggling with the financial impact of the coronavirus. The decision comes as Louisiana prepares to reopen its casinos under strict new rules.

Before shutting down, the casino reported $25.8 million in adjusted gross revenues for the 2020 fiscal year through March 16. The casino was one of six riverboat gambling venues in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. It ranked as the smallest in terms of revenue and visitor numbers.

Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, the owner of DiamondJacks, also operates del Lago Casino in upstate New York and holds a 50% stake in Hard Rock Sioux City Casino in Iowa. The company's decision follows last month's permanent closure of the Lakeside Inn in Nevada, making DiamondJacks the second US casino to shut down due to COVID-19.

Before closing, DiamondJacks employed around 414 people. The pandemic has cost Louisiana's gaming industry over 20,000 jobs, with many casinos temporarily halting operations or cutting staff.

Meanwhile, Louisiana's casinos will reopen on Monday under Phase One restrictions. These include a 25% occupancy limit and only half of slot machines or table game seats in use. Each casino's reopening plan must first be approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. As of Sunday, 55 of the country's 989 tribal and commercial casinos had already resumed operations. The closure leaves 414 workers without jobs and reduces the number of casinos in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Louisiana's reopening rules will apply to remaining venues, but DiamondJacks will not be among them.

The casino's final revenue figures for 2020 will now be recorded as part of its last year of operation.

Read also:

Related

Latest