Friday, May 27, 2005 | 10:52 a.m.
Eager gamblers waited in line for several hours, with some suffering heat exhaustion, to get into the world's largest one story riverboat casino -- the new $365 million L'Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino.
Lines began to form outside at about 6:30 p.m. and grew longer throughout Thursday night until it was time for the casino's 10 p.m. opening. The riverboat includes the casino, hotel, 10 restaurants and retail shops.
The official opening began with a ribbon cutting and then a spectacular fireworks display. Once the doors open to the casino, gamblers -- many wearing cowboy hats -- crowded onto the riverboat.
Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach and country and western singer Collin Raye cut the ribbon with Dan Lee, president of Pinnacle Entertainment, state Sen. Willie Mount, state Rep. Ronnie Johns and former State Rep. Dan Flavin looking on.
Lee said he was pleased with the large turnout and credited his staff with everything running fairly smoothly.
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