Cordish names John J. Chaszar EVP and GM of new Louisiana property

Monday, May 20, 2024 8:09 PM
  • Rege Behe, CDC Gaming

The Cordish Companies Monday announced that John J. Chaszar will be the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana in Bossier City. The new gaming, dining, hotel, and entertainment destination, with a stated price tag of more than $270 million, is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2025 and will be managed by the Cordish Gaming Group.

Chaszar, a longtime gaming industry veteran, will manage the development, grand opening, and day-to-day operations of the first land-based casino property in the Shreveport-Bossier market.

“As the Cordish Companies continues to expand, we are focused on building a team that can deliver the high standards of quality and excellence that have become synonymous with the Live! brand nationwide,” said Cordish Gaming Group President Rob Norton in a statement. “We are confident that under John’s leadership, the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will become a premier destination offering first-class hospitality and entertainment, exceptional customer service, and generating millions of dollars in economic benefits for the Bossier City community for years to come.”

Chaszar has more than three decades of experience in leadership with gaming and resorts operations companies.  He most recently served as senior vice president and general manager of Tropicana Casino in Evansville, Indiana, which also transitioned from a floating to land-based casino during his tenure.

Chaszar spent more than a decade with Penn Entertainment as vice president and general manager at properties including Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Hollywood Casino Resort in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Chaszar also worked for 13 years with Quorum Hotels & Resorts in leadership positions across eight different locations.

Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will feature more than 47,000-square-feet of gaming space, including over 1,000 slots and electronic table games, and more than 40 live action table games; a sportsbook; a 550-room hotel, resort pool and fitness center; and a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multi-purpose event center for entertainment, meeting, conventions, and social gathering. The new site also will have 30,000 square feet devoted to entertainment venues, including multiple new food and beverage outlets featuring national brands such as Sports & Social and PBR Cowboy Bar.

According to a release, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is projected to generate $35 million in gaming tax revenues for the City of Bossier and more than $168 million in gaming tax revenues for the State of Louisiana within its first five years of operation. Annually, it will generate $34 million in salaries, wages, and tips, and create approximately 750 new construction jobs and approximately 750 permanent gaming and hospitality jobs for local and regional residents.

Rege Behe is lead contributor to CDC Gaming. He can be reached at rbehe@cdcgaming.com. Please follow @RegeBehe_exPTR on Twitter.