Sam's Town Casino ushers in sports betting in Shreveport with FanDuel Sportsbook lounge
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On Jan. 13, people from the Shreveport-Bossier area joined in anticipation as buttery popcorn filled the air. It was the day that had been long awaited and marked the first of its kind, as Sam's Town Casino officially opened the first sportsbook in the city of Shreveport. This milestone not only ushered in sports betting but also a sports lounge.
"This is a great opportunity for us to be the first in the market. As well as being first in the market to have a sports lounge where you can not only just make a bet, but you can actually sit and watch the game, drink a beer and have a good time," Michael Pastore, Vice President and General Manager for Sam's Town Casino said.
This lounge was made possible with the partnership from FanDuel Sports, an American gambling company that offers sportsbook, daily fantasy sports, online casino and online horse race betting products.
"This is the only lounge like this in the market," Mayor Adrian Perkins, Mayor of Shreveport said. "I really love when Shreveport is the only in something or first in something."
More: FanDuel sports betting coming to Shreveport casino
Sports fans are now able to place bets at the newly designed 1,466 square foot location that features three live betting windows, multiple self-service betting terminals, multiple video displays and seating for more than 20 guests.
Louisiana's first legal sports betting parlor opened in October of 2021 at the Paragon Casino Resort, ushering in the state's largest gambling expansion in three decades.
Erik Evenson with the Independence Bowl was the first person to cast a vote in the new sportsbook lounge. Evenson made a $20 bet on the Cowboy's for this Sunday.
Read more: In-person sports betting launches in Northwest Louisiana
Evenson said he wanted to be the first person to place a bet because anything to support Sam's Town and the city of Shreveport is up his alley.
"This is a big step as Mayor Perkins mentioned in the opening," Evenson said. "Gaming is a huge part of the industry, so this is a big step for both the city and Sam's Town."
"I think this is pretty cool that people get to come and watch their bets play out," Perkins said.
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Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Sam's Town Casino opens new sportsbook in Shreveport
