Harrah's New Orleans Plans February Re-opening

As reported by the Louisiana Times-Picayune: "Harrah's New Orleans Casino plans to reopen in February just before Mardi Gras with about half of the employees it had before Hurricane Katrina under a plan unanimously approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board Tuesday.

"The Canal Street casino hopes to open the entire property 'on or about Feb. 17' with 1,250 employees and a minimum biweekly payroll of $1 million, and will continue ramping up with increasing requirements for pay and workers as its revenues increase.

"The plan is subject to approval by the Joint Legislative Committee on Friday and the target date for reopening could change if Harrah's has trouble finding enough employees.

"…All of Harrah's Gulf Coast properties have remained closed since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita blew through. Making plans to reopen the New Orleans property required special consideration from the state because the casino was bound by special rules regarding employment and payroll when it got a tax cut from the state in 2001…"