Vegas company joins with Bird in casino bid

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003 | 11:10 a.m.

Coast Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas has acquired an ownership interest in a company formed to pursue a contract to operate a proposed riverboat casino in Orange County, Ind.

Coast becomes the manager of Orange County Development LLC, a group whose members include former NBA star Larry Bird. A French Lick native, Bird has led a push to introduce gambling to the area to improve the fortunes of the faded resort town.

Orange County voters Nov. 4 approved a referendum to allow the Indiana Gaming Commission to select an operator for a planned casino in the vicinity of French Lick, Ind. Several other companies, including Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas, are competing for the contract.

In a joint statement issued Monday, Coast Chairman Michael Gaughan said "gaming is a good fit for south-central Indiana."

The deal "brings us closer to our goal of creating much-needed new jobs and generating revenues to help revitalize the Springs Valley area," Bird said.

The casino would be located in or near the towns of French Lick and West Baden Springs in a state-designated historic hotel district.

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