Flamingo Hilton sale to close next week

Wednesday, May 31, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. has cleared the final hurdle in its $33.5 million purchase of the Flamingo Hilton Casino and will assume ownership of the riverboat next week.

The Missouri Gaming Commission approved the sale of the downtown riverboat on Wednesday at a meeting in Kansas City.

Isle of Capri Casinos, based in Biloxi, Miss., plans to give the Flamingo a $15 million makeover once the sale is complete, shedding the riverboat's hot pink and purple facade for a toned-down, 19th Century exterior.

Floor plans made public earlier show the casino's interior would be transformed into Isle's trademark Caribbean village motif, including a large waterfall in the middle of the gaming floor.

The casino would remain open during the remodeling and all 800 employees would be guaranteed a job, Isle officials have said. The remodel should be completed by the end of the year.

Hilton Hotels Corp. has owned and operated the $300 million gambling vessel since January 1997.

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