Kenner Welcomes $100M Onshore Treasure Chest Casino

Treasure Chest has announced the grand opening of its new land-based casino at the end of Williams Boulevard near Lake Pontchartrain in Kenner, Louisiana, scheduled for Thursday, June 6.

This event will coincide with the closure of its longstanding riverboat casino, which will cease operations at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

The newly constructed casino features a 48,000-square-foot gaming area, twice the size of the original riverboat facility. It also includes over 8,000 square feet of convention space and four new dining options, with the entire project costing around $100 million.

Boyd Gaming Corporation, founded in 1975 by Sam Boyd and his son Bill, is a leading American gaming and hospitality company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Treasure Chest, which is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, initially opened in 1994 on a replica riverboat on Lake Pontchartrain. The original riverboat casino featured just one restaurant and no convention space.

The new land-based casino is expected to provide a significant economic boost to Kenner. Mayor Michael Glaser stated in his recent budget proposal that the casino is anticipated to catalyze economic development, increasing sales tax revenue and riverboat fees that Kenner heavily depends on.

Kenner officials are also considering additional redevelopment projects for the Laketown area. In April, Jefferson Parish 4th District Council member Arita Bohannan revealed plans for a new outdoor amphitheater with seating for 7,500, a boardwalk, and an observation point on the western edge of Laketown.

A ceremonial "last bets" event will be held at 11:59 p.m. on June 1 at the riverboat casino, featuring a second line and banner drop. The new casino, located at 4540 Williams Boulevard, will officially open at 8 a.m. on June 6.