Riverboat plan advancing

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Blueprints for a $325 million riverboat casino gambling complex and resort in Lake Charles got approval Tuesday from the state's gambling board with a warning from the board's chairman about changes.

Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Hillary Crain reminded Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. representatives that the board approved the 15th and final riverboat casino license for the Lake Charles boat after looking at its plans.

Crain said the final project shouldn't be substantially different than the proposal -- and it shouldn't ever cost less than the original $225 million price tag.

"It's all right to tinker up, but when you start tinkering down, that's a problem," Crain said, reminding Pinnacle that any changes must get gambling board approval.

The blueprints approved Tuesday have several hundred more hotel rooms than the original proposal, a taller hotel, fewer parking spaces in the garage and no tennis courts.

The company is planning a $325 million resort that would include a 22-story hotel, an 18-hole golf course and the state's largest riverboat casino. The casino complex will have about 1,800 full-time employees and several hundred part-time workers.