Caesars Entertainment opened two sportsbooks at Harrah’s New Orleans and the Horseshoe in Bossier City, Louisiana in late October with much fanfare, and deservedly so. The legalization of sports betting in the state was an arduous and difficult process.
But Caesars wasn’t the first sportsbook to open in Louisiana. That honor went to the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville when the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe partnered with Betfred Sports and R2Architects + R2Interiors to create the sportsbook at The Draft Room inside the casino almost a full month before any other sportsbook in the state opened.
R2 Architects was retained to provide architectural, interior design, and planning services for this project.
“We were the first tribe in Louisiana to put a casino up,” says Paragon Board Member James Craig III. “Now we’re the first tribe in Louisiana and also across the board to have sports betting here in Louisiana. Everyone else is enjoying it everywhere else in Vegas and other states, but here in Louisiana, now we can enjoy it.”
The sportsbook features over 120 big-screen TVs and 200 seats including recliners, VIP sections, and slot machines. Betfred Sports will operate a traditional sportsbook in the Draft Room—Paragon’s newest amenity—comprised of traditional theater seating, a custom video wall, betting counters and kiosks. The Draft Room’s restaurant and bar offers fan favorite foods, cold draft beers, and multiple seating options sure to please any sports fan.
Online sports betting will be available as well at a later date.
“All I want to ask you is who we’re betting on,” laughed Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser.
Nungesser placed the next wager. He and other elected officials are looking forward to the tax revenue this billion-dollar industry can generate for state education.
“I think it’s the shot in the arm, no pun intended, that we need coming out of Covid,” says Nungesser. “We’ve been thinking outside of the box of things that we can do to draw attention to Louisiana because we’re competing against every state for those tourism dollars.”
“Our partnership with Betfred Sports marks a new chapter for Paragon, which has always been a source of pride for Marksville and the people of Louisiana,” Paragon General Manager Marshall Sampson, Sr., said. “With this new partnership, I hope visitors from across the region will have the chance to experience it for themselves. Together, we are offering a first-class sports betting platform and venue that will make Paragon Casino Resort the place to bet and watch games in Louisiana.”
The Paragon sportsbook is the fourth U.S. sportsbook for the British-based Betfred.
“Louisiana is an exciting opportunity for Betfred Sports to continue its expansion in the U.S. after successful launches in Iowa, Colorado and Pennsylvania,” said Mark Stebbings, Betfred Group chief operating officer. “We look forward to utilizing our 50 years of bookmaking experience with our fantastic partner, Paragon Casino Resort, to bring the best sports betting experience to bettors in the state.”
The sportsbook is powered by Scientific Games’ OpenBet platform featuring custom betting counters and self-service kiosks.
LOCATION: Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville, Louisiana
OWNER: Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
DESIGNER: R2Architects + R2Interiors
OPERATOR: Betfred Sports
