Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. Purchases 35 Acres in Baton Rouge

The company, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., is causing controversy after their most recent purchase of a 35 acre tract in Baton Rouge that would ultimately put a third riverboat casino in the area.

Baton Rouge records show that Yankton Investments, a Pinnacle subsidiary, bought the 35-acre tract along River Road on this past Wednesday for $1.1 million.

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. subsidary has done nothing wrong in purchasing the property, however, the purchase comes with many objections from some very serious objectors.

"I thought it was the most ridiculous idea to come along for quite some time. That area is totally inappropriate for this," said state Rep. William Daniel, who was composing a letter Thursday night to the Gaming Control Board expressing his opposition.

Baton Rouge is home to two other riverboat casinos, the Belle of Baton Rouge, owned by Columbia Sussex Corp., and Casino Rouge, owned by Penn National Gaming Inc. The two casinos feel there is no room for a third riverboat casino. They believe the addition of a third casino would dilute the profits to the point of destroying each of the businesses.

"We believe that this is a two-boat market, and has been for a long time," said Jon Zimmerman, general manager of Casino Rouge. "At one time some economists called it a boat-and-a-half market. We don't believe it will support a third riverboat."

Pinnacle responded by saying if they did bring the casino there they would attract out of town visitors, while the two casinos currently running say a large majority of their business only comes from local residents.

Trudy Fuselier, an assistant to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, said Thursday that so far, Pinnacle has not petitioned the agency bring a casino to Baton Rouge, although they did buy the property. Moving another casino to Baton Rouge would require the approval of parish voters.

September 16, 2006
Posted By Bob Hartman
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!