Louisiana’s Queen Baton Rouge Officially Opens

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 09/06/2023

Jane Shaw Senior Editor See Full Bio

We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

Twitter X

Louisiana’s Queen Baton Rouge

Gamblers in Louisiana now have another exciting entertainment option open to them following the official opening of the Queen Baton Rouge. The venue, previously the Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, has been brought inland and has undergone an $85 million renovation. The improvements include the expansion of the gaming area and more facilities for visitors to enjoy.

The move inland comes after lawmakers in the state passed legislation in 2018 that allowed riverboat casinos in Louisiana to move inland providing the gaming floors remained around a quarter of a mile from the original riverboat locations.

The property was acquired in 2021 by CQ Holding Company, which purchased it from Penn Entertainment in a deal worth more than $28 million. At this point, it was decided that a major overhaul of the casino was needed, and this has now been completed.

A Wide Range of Improvements

As part of the renovation project, a range of improvements have taken place at the venue, so visitors to the casino will have plenty to look forward to. There is no on-site hotel at the property, so guests will not be able to access accommodation. However, there are plenty of other facilities and amenities that visitors will be able to enjoy.

The renovation has been ongoing for two years, so many gamblers will have been eager for the venue to open complete with a wide range of improvements.

These include a casino that now spans more than 100,000 square feet rather than the 66,000 feet previously. There are more than 700 slots for players to choose from, 18 table games, and an onsite DraftKings sportsbook.

While there is no hotel for visitors to the venue, there are now plenty of dining options and bars as a result of the renovation. On top of this, the venue offers meeting and event space spanning 6,000 square feet. Security has also been improved at the venue, which will give a lot of people greater peace of mind given the crime levels in Baton Rouge.

Queen Baton Rouge general manager Matthew Shehadi said:

We’ve provided a fun, exciting, safe environment and completely redid the parking lot, lighting, and security. We just want people to come down, have fun, and feel safe.

He added that the venue was now absolutely stunning following the many improvements that had been made during the renovation project.

Benefits for the Entire Baton Rouge Area

The opening of the venue will bring with it many benefits for the area. For one, locals in the Baton Rouge area can now enjoy exciting entertainment at a new and improved facility. In addition, the renovation and expansion could bring new jobs to the area.

In addition to this, it could help to bring more people to the area, as many will be curious about the venue. This will not only benefit the casino itself but will also have a positive knock-on effect on other local businesses, as they could enjoy more trade as a result of increased visitor numbers.