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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 217
BY REPRESENTATIVES BURRELL, BROWN, BURFORD, HENRY BURNS,
CARMODY, COX, JEFFERSON, JIM MORRIS, REYNOLDS, SEABAUGH,
THOMPSON, AND PATRICK WILLIAMS
A RESOLUTION
To commend 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.
WHEREAS, built by Jack Binion, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino began operating
on July 9, 1994; and
WHEREAS, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino was the first Horseshoe property to be
built outside of Las Vegas; and
WHEREAS, Harrah's Louisiana Downs and Horseshoe were acquired by Harrah's
Entertainment in 2002 and 2004 respectively, and Harrah's became known as Caesar's
Entertainment in 2010; and
WHEREAS, along with its sister property, Louisiana Downs, Horseshoe is the third
largest employer in Bossier City, with nearly one thousand seven hundred employees; and
WHEREAS, Horseshoe is an entertainment hot spot in northwest Louisiana, known
for presenting shows from well-known talent such as Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett, Bill
Cosby, Loretta Lynn, and Wynonna; and
WHEREAS, Horseshoe is home to the newly built DARE Day Club Ultra pool,
which brings a hip new experience to northwest Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in addition to providing entertainment for the region, Horseshoe is a
major supporter of charities and nonprofits in northwest Louisiana such as the Philadelphia
Center, the Caddo and Bossier Councils on Aging, and the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank,
to name a few; and
WHEREAS, Horseshoe employees donated more than seven thousand hours to local
organizations for the betterment of their community; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 217
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WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs opened for business on October 30, 1974, making this
year the fortieth anniversary; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs races both quarter horses and thoroughbred horses;
and
WHEREAS, in 1980, Louisiana Downs began the Super Derby, which runs every
September and has attracted Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes winners; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs offers entertainment for the whole family including
unique events such as exotic animal racing and wiener dog races; and
WHEREAS, like Horseshoe, Louisiana Downs is a major supporter of many charities
and nonprofits in northwest Louisiana, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association and
Backside Benevolence Fund; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Downs was used as the location for the filming of "Ruffian",
which was a film about the famed horse, Ruffian, who dominated racing in the early 1970s;
and
WHEREAS, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino and Harrah's Louisiana Downs are
enormous contributors to the health of the economy in the Shreveport-Bossier area and the
state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year, riverboat casinos in Shreveport-Bossier
generated over one hundred forty million dollars in fees which were paid to the state, making
Shreveport-Bossier the most prolific provider of income to the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, gaming revenue is a substantial part of the Louisiana economy,
generating over six hundred seventy-one million dollars in direct gaming revenue in the
Fiscal Year 2011-2012, more than half of which was generated from riverboat gaming; and
WHEREAS, the revenue generated from gaming operations fund various programs
in the state and is a primary source of funding for the Support Education in Louisiana Fund
(SELF); and
WHEREAS, in addition to their enormous contributions to the economy of the state
of Louisiana, in 2012, Horseshoe alone paid over forty-three million dollars in payroll to one
thousand two hundred twenty-four employees, one thousand one hundred ninety-two of
whom were Louisiana residents, eight hundred three of whom were minorities, and six
hundred eighty-eight were female; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 217
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WHEREAS, Horseshoe Bossier City Casino and Harrah's Louisiana Downs are an
exceptional source of entertainment to the people of Louisiana and make a profound
difference by giving back to the community; and
WHEREAS, Horseshoe and Louisiana Downs are prime contributors to the economy
of the state of Louisiana, bringing in an incredible amount of revenue for the betterment of
the state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend and congratulate Horseshoe Bossier City
Casino upon its twentieth anniversary and its sister property, Harrah's Louisiana Downs,
upon its fortieth anniversary and does hereby acknowledge and show appreciation for their
significant contributions to Shreveport-Bossier, northwest Louisiana, and the state of
Louisiana as a whole.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Horseshoe Bossier City Casino and Harrah's Louisiana Downs.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES