Caesars Entertainment, Inc., on Monday said two of its casinos with longstanding legacies in Louisiana have commenced accepting in-person wagers on sports.
On Sunday, Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City Hotel & Casino took their first over-the-counter sports bets at their respective Caesars Sportsbooks.
To commemorate the milestone, Caesars held simultaneous first bet events at temporary retail sportsbooks inside Harrah’s and Horseshoe.
In New Orleans, former New Orleans Saints quarterback and current media personality Bobby Hebert (pictured) placed the ceremonial first bet to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. At the same time, Mayor Tommy Chandler cut the ribbon to get wagering underway in Bossier City.
According to Caesars, lines of sports fans eager to get in on the action built at both sportsbooks, led in Bossier City by a guest betting $55,000 on the Detroit Lions to cover +3.5 against the Philadelphia Eagles (not a winner, as the Eagles romped, 44-6).
With mobile sports wagering still pending regulatory approval, Caesars encouraged sports fans in the region to learn about in-person sports betting and responsible gaming.
“Caesars is proud of our commitment to Louisiana and the entire Gulf Coast region,” Dan Real, regional president, Caesars Entertainment, said in a statement. “Today was historic for us as a company and we are excited to open our new Caesars Sportsbook locations at Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City to honor the legacy these properties hold in the region. We can’t wait to introduce all that sports betting has to offer to sports fans while sharing our emphasis on responsible gaming.”
Eric Hession, co-president of Caesars Digital, added: “We are excited to bring sports betting to our valued customers in Louisiana. The launch of our sportsbooks at Harrah's and Horseshoe is just the beginning. Once mobile sports betting is live, we look forward to serving sports fans on every platform and offering all of our customers unforgettable experiences with Caesars Rewards.”
