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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 217
BY REPRESENTATIVE BURRELL
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Horseshoe Bossier City Casino upon the occasion of its
twentieth anniversary and its sister property, Harrah's Louisiana Downs, upon the
occasion of its fortieth anniversary
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Horseshoe Bossier City Casino upon the occasion of its twentieth anniversary2
and its sister property, Harrah's Louisiana Downs, upon the occasion of its fortieth3
anniversary.4
WHEREAS, built by Jack Binion, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino began operating5
on July 9, 1994; and6
WHEREAS, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino was the first Horseshoe property to be7
built outside of Las Vegas; and8
WHEREAS, Harrah's Louisiana Downs and Horseshoe were acquired by Harrah's9
Entertainment in 2002 and 2004 respectively, and Harrah's became known as Caesar's10
Entertainment in 2010; and11
WHEREAS, along with its sister property, Louisiana Downs, Horseshoe is the third12
largest employer in Bossier City, with nearly one thousand seven hundred employees; and13
WHEREAS, Horseshoe is an entertainment hot spot in northwest Louisiana, known14
for presenting shows from well-known talent such as Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett, Bill15
Cosby, Loretta Lynn, and Wynonna; and16
WHEREAS, Horseshoe is home to the newly built DARE Day Club Ultra pool,17
which brings a hip new experience to northwest Louisiana; and18
WHEREAS, in addition to providing entertainment for the region, Horseshoe is a19
major supporter of charities and nonprofits in northwest Louisiana such as the Philadelphia20 HLS 14RS-6076 ORIGINAL
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Center, the Caddo and Bossier Councils on Aging, and the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank,1
to name a few; and2
WHEREAS, Horseshoe employees donated more than seven thousand hours to local3
organizations for the betterment of their community; and4
WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs opened for business on October 30, 1974, making this5
year the fortieth anniversary; and6
WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs races both quarter horses and thoroughbred horses;7
and8
WHEREAS, in 1980, Louisiana Downs began the Super Derby, which runs every9
September and has attracted Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes winners; and10
WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs offers entertainment for the whole family including11
unique events such as exotic animal racing and wiener dog races; and12
WHEREAS, like Horseshoe, Louisiana Downs is a major supporter of many charities13
and nonprofits in northwest Louisiana, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association and14
Backside Benevolence Fund; and15
WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs was used as the location for the filming of "Ruffian",16
which was a film about the famed horse, Ruffian, who dominated racing in the early 1970s;17
and18
WHEREAS, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino and Harrah's Louisiana Downs are19
enormous contributors to the health of the economy in the Shreveport-Bossier area and the20
state of Louisiana; and21
WHEREAS, in the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year, riverboat casinos in Shreveport-Bossier22
generated over one hundred forty million dollars in fees which were paid to the state, making23
Shreveport-Bossier the most prolific provider of income to the state of Louisiana; and24
WHEREAS, gaming revenue is a substantial part of the Louisiana economy,25
generating over six hundred seventy-one million dollars in direct gaming revenue in the26
Fiscal Year 2011-2012, more than half of which was generated from riverboat gaming; and27
WHEREAS, the revenue generated from gaming operations fund various programs28
in the state and is a primary source of funding for the Support Education in Louisiana Fund29
(SELF); and30 HLS 14RS-6076 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, in addition to their enormous contributions to the economy of the state1
of Louisiana, in 2012, Horseshoe alone paid over forty-three million dollars in payroll to one2
thousand two hundred twenty-four employees, one thousand one hundred ninety-two of3
whom were Louisiana residents, eight hundred three of whom were minorities, and six4
hundred eighty-eight were female; and5
WHEREAS, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino and Harrah's Louisiana Downs are an6
exceptional source of entertainment to the people of Louisiana and make a profound7
difference by giving back to the community; and8
WHEREAS, Horseshoe and Louisiana Downs are prime contributors to the economy9
of the state of Louisiana, bringing in an incredible amount of revenue for the betterment of10
the state.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the12
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend and congratulate Horseshoe Bossier City13
Casino upon its twentieth anniversary and its sister property, Harrah's Louisiana Downs,14
upon its fortieth anniversary and does hereby acknowledge and show appreciation for their15
significant contributions to Shreveport-Bossier, northwest Louisiana, and the state of16
Louisiana as a whole.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted18
to Horseshoe Bossier City Casino and Harrah's Louisiana Downs.19
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Burrell HR No. 217
Commends and congratulates Horseshoe Bossier City Casino upon its twentieth anniversary
and its sister property, Harrah's Louisiana Downs, upon its fortieth anniversary.