Bet It All

Fancy new casino destination opens only three hours from Dallas

See it — and experience it — live.

Photo courtesy of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana

The gaming and entertainment landscape of Louisiana has reached a new pinnacle with the grand opening of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, a $270-plus million resort that's a mere three-hour drive from Dallas.

As the first land-side casino in the Shreveport-Bossier market, this luxurious venue introduces an unparalleled experience that seamlessly blends high-energy gaming, top-tier accommodations, and premier dining and entertainment.

“Just over a year ago, we broke ground on what is now a world-class entertainment destination — a true game-changer for Bossier City,” says Jon Cordish, principal of The Cordish Companies. “With every detail thoughtfully designed to deliver a premier guest experience, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is set to become the cornerstone of excitement, hospitality, and economic growth for this region.”

A landmark development
Strategically positioned along the Red River, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is easily accessible from U.S. Highway 71 and Interstate 20, just 20 miles from the Texas border and 40 miles from Arkansas.

“We have eagerly awaited this moment, knowing that Live! will bring an unparalleled level of entertainment excellence to our city. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome the Live! brand," says Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler.

Photo courtesy of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana

Unmatched experiences
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana offers a premier entertainment experience with:

Gaming: Over 47,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,000-plus slot machines, 40-plus live-action table games, and a DraftKings Sportsbook.
Luxury accommodations: A 549-room upscale hotel featuring a resort pool and fitness center.
Live! Event Center: A 25,000-square-foot venue for concerts, meetings, and conventions.
RV Park: A 31-site facility with full hookups and concrete pads.

The resort boasts an exciting lineup of dining and nightlife experiences, including:

Sports & Social: Home to the DraftKings Sportsbook, this high-energy bar features an 80-foot LED media wall, craft food, and cocktails.
PBR Cowboy Bar: A country-western venue with live music and mechanical bull riding.
Luk Fu: An Asian-inspired eatery offering dim sum, pho, sushi, and wok-fried dishes.
The Prime Rib: A fine-dining steakhouse renowned for its award-winning Prime rib and fresh seafood.
Ridotto Grand Café: A Venetian-inspired café serving Italian specialties.
R Bar: A lively spot featuring oysters, shareable plates, and craft cocktails.
Center Bar: Located at the heart of the gaming floor and spotlighting a 40,000-pound color-changing chandelier.
High Limit Bar: A private lounge for exclusive gaming patrons.

Photo courtesy of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana

Entertainment and events
The Live! Event Center is poised to become the premier venue in Northwest Louisiana, with a lineup of top-tier entertainment, including Clint Black on March 29.

Beyond concerts, the venue offers customizable event spaces for galas, weddings, and corporate functions. The high-tech Harbor Boardroom, River Room, Delta Room, and expansive pre-function space make it an ideal choice for meetings and private events.

A bright future
With its state-of-the-art amenities, luxurious accommodations, and unmatched entertainment offerings, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is set to redefine the gaming landscape in the Ark-La-Tex region.

As general manager John J. Chaszar puts it, “From the moment guests walk through our doors, they will be inspired by the spectacular venue we’ve created. Our team is second to none, and we are ready to create unforgettable memories for our guests.”

For more information on upcoming events and reservations, visit Louisiana.LiveCasinoHotel.com.

casino vacation live casino openings promoted

BACKSTAGE PASS

Universal Music unveils new hotel and amphitheater near Texas Hill Country

UMusic Hotel & Private Residences Austin

Rendering courtesy of UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle

A rendering of the property, with another building extending off-screen to the right.

Texas travelers who want to make sure their next weekend trip takes full advantage of the “Live Music Capital” have an upcoming community to consider: UMusic Hotel & Private Residences Austin, an effort owned by White Rocks and developed in partnership with Universal Music Group, will bring 150 hotel rooms, 600 private residences, and a new amphitheater to a 71-acre site at the edge of the Hill Country.

A representative says an opening is projected for the first quarter of 2029, with construction beginning in the first quarter of 2027. Residences are on sale now. Different units cost $850-$1,450 per square foot, depending on variables like locations, views, and more.

There is already one UMusic Hotel operating in Madrid, Spain. The Austin location will introduce private residences for the first time.

The keystone of the property will be White Rocks Amphitheater, an open-air venue that takes advantage of the natural surroundings. More than 70 percent of the site will "remain green open space," the release says. There will also be a performance venue inside the hotel, plus professional recording and content studios.

Music is the central force of the property, but it's not the only thing to do at the hotel. There will also be a bar, a nightclub, a comedy club, dining, a rooftop pool and fitness center, and a spa and wellness center.

At the spa, visitors can get traditional treatments like massages, facials, hair, makeup, and manicures, while the wellness center offers weight training, steam rooms, hammam (a Southwest Asian or North African bath), plus more advanced technologies including red-light therapy, peptide therapy, cryogenic chambers, and more. Sometimes the amphitheater will host yoga, weight training, and other physical events.

Similarly, the residences will have access to their own set of amenities including, a private pool and fitness facilities, underground parking, and common areas, the release says. They can visit the hotel anytime and enjoy the culture there, too.

"The result is a living environment that offers the peace of a private retreat alongside the vibrancy of an international cultural hub," the release says.

Since nature is such a big part of the plan, the developer has a number of sustainability commitments going into the project. Those include a mostly hidden plant for hot and cold water and power, microgrid energy tech, a closed-loop water system that developers say complies with a 100 percent water reuse goal set by the city, and DarkSky-compliant practices that help reduce light pollution, which is better for wildlife and seeing stars. That will help at monthly stargazing events held at the amphitheater.

The developers have also committed to the creative community that made them want to work in Austin to begin with; things like allocating a portion of ticket sales to a perpetual endowment for local artists and nonprofits, setting up paid gigs for emerging talent, and partnering with schools and other cultural institutions, sometimes for mentorship opportunities.

“Our vision is to create places where culture is made, shared, and celebrated," said UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle president Jordi Solé in the release. "This property combines performance, wellness, nature, and community into a single living ecosystem, reflecting Austin's creative spirit on a global stage.”

hotels developments condos venues live music