The House approves legislation that would allow St. Tammany voters the chance to vote on whether or not a waterfront casino should be built just outside Slidell.
The bill was brought by Slidell Representative Mary DuBuisson who quoted recent survey results indicating local support for the right to vote on the issue. She said the poll shows 93 percent of parish residents want the right to vote on the question and 67 percent support the project.
DuBuisson pointed to a 2009 Gaming Control Board study shows Louisiana loses about 3.2 million people per year to Mississippi casinos. She said this project would potentially capture about a third of those losses and could generate 27.2 million in revenue for the state.
Supporters also claim the project would cut down on casino oversaturation in the Bossier City market. The current proposal by P2E would result in the closure of DiamondJacks in Bossier and the relocation of that license to St. Tammany Parish. The casino would be constructed at the foot of the twin spans on Lake Ponchartrain just outside Slidell city limits.
Opponents argue the casino would result in increased human trafficking and immoral behavior in Slidell. Proponents argued this must be left up to the people of the parish.
“We understand and respect moral concerns about gaming, some of us have that some of us have mixed feelings about all of that but we are united in giving our people a vote,” said Covington Representative Mark Wright.
The final vote was 63-28 in favor and the bill now heads to the Senate. Identical legislation introduced by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt is currently stalled in Senate Finance.
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